PREVIEW

WORDS BYLINE: Carolyn Griffith
A farm has unveiled a mammoth tribute to Sir David Attenborough made with thousands of pumpkins.
The impressive display at Sunnyfields in Totton, New Forest comprises around 11,000 pumpkins and squash – making it slightly larger than last year’s tribute to late rocker Ozzy Osbourne – and took 20 people around six hours to complete.
Sir David, who celebrated his 100th birthday in May, was chosen for this year’s theme after an “overwhelming” public response, said farm co-owner Tom Nelson.
He said: “We try to always go with what the public wants when we ask them. We enjoy reading all of the suggestions, there are definitely some funny ones in there as well.
“After we have our subject for the pyramid, a few of us discuss the general vision that we have and we pass it to our fantastic in-house artist, Andrew Bega, who works with us for about four months of the season and does all of the artistry around the event.”
He added: “The reason why the public was so overwhelmingly asking for David is because of how much he means to so many families across the UK and the world, how much he has been part of being in our living rooms, and the causes he has championed for his entire life. One hundred years of being part of all of our lives is something that needs to be championed and celebrated, and we’re very pleased and proud to be a part of it.”
The farm received a Guinness World Record in 2023 for its Nightmare Before Christmas display, which measured a whopping 193.35sqm, before beating it last year with their tribute to Ozzy, which spanned 212sqm. Now it’s hoped that can be beaten after increasing the size of the mound.
Tom added: “We really wanted to beat last year’s size. When we originally built the pyramid, we actually didn’t build it symmetrically, so if you look at all the previous years, the right-hand side is at a steeper gradient.
“Therefore, what we have done is increase the right-hand side base by about 1.5m. It took about 20 tonnes of extra soil to get this done.There is always scope to go bigger and better.”
Tom explained growing conditions had been “very tough” this year due to extreme weather, and although most produce is “a bit smaller this year”, one particular pumpkin variety – a white version – had come out “very large”.
In previous years the giant displays at the farm have included a pumpkin face with a mask during the pandemic, a Cinderella carriage and Paddington Bear.
As reported, the family of the late Ozzy, including his wife Sharon, son Jack, and daughter Kelly were given a tour of the farm last October. They were said to have been “touched” by the display following his death that July.
People can get up close to the display during the farm’s Pumpkin Time event, which begins on Saturday 3rd October, and this year includes new indoor experiences, a photobooth area, and family-friendly roaming characters.
The farm is also debuting its new event, Dark Harvest, from 16th October, with three “terrifying” scare mazes: Circursed, Iron Haze Yard and The Cult Reaping. While it is suitable for people aged 13 and over, those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.