St Helens farm where you can have a secret picnic among 100,000 sunflowers

A St Helens farm is offering the chance to explore a blooming sunflower field – and picnic in secret slap bang in the middle.

Rainfords Farm in Eccleston has planted a whopping 100,000 sunflowers in a field previously out of bounds to the public, and it’s inviting people to enjoy a summer feast on tables hidden among the blossoming 6ft-tall crop.

Farmer and owner of the Catchdale Moss Lane farm, Richard Rainford said.

“Everyone says it’s a chance to leave behind the hustle and bustle of the summer holidays and enjoy a bit of special time among the sunflowers”

“Sunflowers are so bright and cheery, and it’s quite something to be surrounded by the huge blooms, where no-one else can see you.”

Richard adds:

“Many people have memories of sunflowers, from growing them as children and having competitions to see whose can grow the biggest – or at all! So they feel timeless.

“And this is just a lovely opportunity to enjoy a unique experience among these giant summery flowers that everybody loves.”

The 150-year-old Rainfords Farm is well known in the area for its Christmas Trees and festive experiences, as well as its pumpkin picking fields and events in the autumn and winter months.

But this is the first time Richard, his wife Alli, and the team at the farm have planted sunflowers for a brand-new summer adventure.

“We planted 100,000 seeds and now they’re all out it looks beautiful, it’s just ‘wow’.

“To get to the sunflower field you have to go past the Christmas trees and the pumpkin patch, and the cornfield, so it’s a really lovely walk just to get to them.

“You get a map to explore the field that takes you up to the top of the fields behind the farmhouse, and that’s just stunning.

“It’s nice for people to see areas of the farm they’ve never seen before and to immerse themselves in what’s going on here, rather than looking on.

“And of course, if you decide to have a picnic, you have to hunt for your table hidden in a special spot among the flowers – and dogs are welcome too!”

The picnics are available by booking them in advance from Rainfords’ Apres Tree Café and they cost £15 for adult picnics which includes one box filled with savoury treats like a pork pie, ham, Scotch egg, cheese, tomatoes, rocket and a freshly-baked roll, and another containing a cake of choice, a scone and jam with clotted cream, and a drink.

Children get a cute farm box with a sandwich, crisps, sweet treat and drink for £7.50.

Every Friday evening to the end of August – which is how long the sunflower field will be open – the farm will open later so visitors can enjoy the sunflowers at sunset, surrounded by campfires and entertained by a live band.

You can enjoy a picnic or a freshly-made stone-baked pizza from the pizza oven and a drink from the farm bar.

“We try to do things a little differently here and be immersive, so whatever the season, people get to be involved and part of what we are doing and growing here, rather than just looking on.”

Focused on sustainability, normally for every tree cut down Rainfords will plant another – and with the sunflowers, all the seeds will be recycled as bird food. Their haybale maze, which is another popular farm feature open now, is also recycled.

The farm is open every day between 10am and 5pm.

Find more information about what’s going on at Rainfords Farm this summer here.

Find more things to do in St Helens here.

Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide. 

From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.