Pop Up Patch: Meet Beatrice - quite possibly the youngest farm host in Yorkshire

Beatrice is also bringing on the next generation. Her brother Reuben is 18 months old and already following in his big sister’s footsteps, admittedly a little slower than his sister’s pace, but that’s also perhaps because he has one eye on his daddy’s combine harvesters and tractors.

“We started off what has become Pop-Up Patch when we planted some sunflowers during lockdown,” says Abigail Wagstaff, mum of Beatrice and Reuben, and wife of arable and cattle farmer Russell.

“Our idea was to do something for our kids, something that they can maybe grow into something much bigger when they are older. We know how hard it is in farming and wanted to create another avenue to look after them for the future, offering them another form of income other than our traditional incomes from grain and beef.

“We have grown steadily from where we started five years ago and now have three crops – sunflowers, potatoes and pumpkins – on around six acres that our visitors can enjoy looking at, walking around and taking them home with them.

“Sunflowers are great, they make you feel happy and they are something people like to see and buy. That first year we painted a sign that was quite young farmer-ish and we had an honesty box for those who picked the sunflowers to put their money into, in exchange for taking the sunflowers.

Abigail says that the Pop-Up Patch has been added to every year with new ideas including the other crops, a small café/shop that she runs herself and a children’s play area. Now in its fifth year Pop-up Patch has become something of a farm visitor attraction in the area and there are those who have come every year and see it as part of their summer activity with their children.

“Our Yorkshire Sunflower Trail through the crop is a maze and is something that everyone, young and old, enjoys,” says Abigail. “Grandparents and parents just love playing in it with their grandchildren and children.

“We’ve had fantastic reviews. One reviewer said it was a lovely way to spend a few hours and that this place is the gift that keeps on giving. We hope that is the case for many years to come. Another reviewer mentioned the maze as a brilliant addition.

“Sadly, we don’t have an honesty box any longer and we now charge on entry, but the charge is per family and includes six sunflowers. We provide the secateurs, but people can bring their own.

Abigail grew up on a neighbouring farm to Westfield where her father Andrew Stott had Aberdeen Angus cattle and Hampshire Down sheep. It was a good grounding for her in terms of being used to marketing and dealing with the public as they sold their home-grown, grass-reared beef and lamb in meat boxes.

“Russell works so hard on the family farm and has built it up considerably but having another income through people coming here and then taking home what we have grown is something that we hope will work out well in the coming years. We are still in the early stages but as we grow and offer even more I am hoping it can make a significant contribution.

The weather clearly plays an important part in the success of any farm’s crops and with being a visitor attraction Pop-Up Patch needs the weather to be right both during the growing season and the visitor season.

Abigail tells of how, in her role of Farmer Abigail, she looks seriously at the growing season.

“Usually, we start with our pumpkins from seed and then put them in a polytunnel but this year we put the seed straight into the ground. When we did it, it rained like mad and then it came really hot, so we went for it and they are looking amazing.

“This past month’s weather has been horrendous, particularly when we were just opening up for the season in late July, but it hasn’t affected the sunflowers, in fact I’d argue with anyone that they look better than ever this year. They are blooming, they are taller and that makes them easier for picking. We are also lucky that we are on sandy land and that means it drains well and that people coming don’t get too muddy.

“When it’s sunny or simply a nice day we are now finding that, five years in, people know about us and the word is spreading. Things like social media pages for mums’ groups are really great for us.

Potatoes might not, at first glance, seem as visually appealing to Abigail’s visitors, mainly because they are still underground.

Abigail says this crop is a different exercise that has a three-fold effect of providing children with an education into crop growing, and at least an understanding of where potatoes come from; something different to do at Pop-Up Patch and a greater understanding of food.

“We grow early season new potatoes such as Charlottes and they’re also looking great. They have been ready for at least six weeks and are in the same field as the sunflowers. While the sunflowers and pumpkins are a pick your own exercise the potatoes are a great different exercise for children to get to know more about them and to dig up their own. We have spades for them, but we’re happy for people to bring their own.

Pumpkin growing has become a winner for many other farms in the UK particularly since Hallowe’en started becoming more popular than ever over the past twenty years and Abigail is now a card-carrying, fully committed pumpkin grower.

“I’ve turned into is this crazy pumpkin woman freak. I just love them and the joy they bring to everyone. We grow thousands of them, including varieties like Jack o’ Lantern and Gold Medal, and loads of gourdes. They are available for picking from the end of September, and they already look a tremendous sight now. We also have a Hallowe’en Disco for the kids as well as a carving tent.

Abigail tells of how Pop-Up Patch has also increased her daughter Beatrice’s confidence.

“Beatrice gives guided tours to customers and asks what they want in our little café. It has really brought her on.

Abigail is a horsey girl at heart. She recently had Hunter breeding champion and her brood mare won the overall championship at Ryedale Show, but it is her Shires she is most proud of currently which she breeds with her friend and shire guru Walter Bedford.

Earlier this year Abigail took her four-year old filly to the National Shire Show where she was champion and National Ridden Champion and has qualified for the Time Out Horse of the Year Show.

“That’s my passion,” says Abigail. “Pop-Up Patch is now another. It’s about doing it for our children and building for their future.