Spilmans Summer Fruits
Located in the charming village of Sessay, Spilman's Pick Your Own Soft Fruits offers a delightful countryside experience with its farm shop, cafe, and seasonal events like the Pumpkin Festival. Visitors can enjoy a day of fruit picking and family-friendly activities, making it a perfect stop for tourists exploring the Thirsk area.
Description
We have been growing strawberries at Church Farm, Sessay, since 1970, starting off with 2 acres, and gradually increasing to the present 12 acres. 1 acre of raspberries was planted in 1990, and this area has now increased to 3 acres. Alongside these fruits are also blackcurrants, redcurrants, gooseberries and plums.
Over the years, new varieties of strawberries have been developed, and we grow a selection in order to extend the season and to produce quality fruit throughout June and July. Rosie, Christine, Korona, Symphony and Florence are amongst the strawberry varieties we grow (and we are always looking out for new ones which will suit our land and system). Our raspberry varieties are Glen Moy, Glen Ample, and Tulameen, which have done well for us. Each variety shows its own characteristics and flavour.
All the fruit is grown in a traditional manner, without soil sterilization, and open to the elements. Last year, this posed huge problems as we tried to pick fruit in one of the wettest summers we can remember. The tracks around the fields were only passable with a tractor and trailer, and wellies and waterproofs were the order of the day! Our pickers did a fantastic job in very trying conditions. Here’s hoping for a much better summer next year!
Most of our fruit pickers are from Poland and the Czech Republic, working with some local supervisors. Many pickers return year after year, which is good as they know our system, and we enjoy having some familiar faces on the farm.
We also run a farm shop during the season, selling the fruit both ready picked and on a pick you own basis. Church Farm is in a very quiet, and beautiful location, and many people love coming to spend time in the fields picking some fruit, whilst enjoying the atmosphere.
Besides the fruit, we also grow more conventional crops such as cereals, potatoes and fodder beet, as well as asparagus. We run a flock of 300 mainly Mule ewes and fatten our cattle inside during the winter, and out at grass in the summer. We are a family business and enjoy working closely with our customers, providing the service and high quality produce they require.
During Spring, our own reared Spring lamb is available from the Shop as well:
- Whole or Half Lambs, or just a joint for the weekend, or a few chops.
Our own beef is available to order - grass fed, and well hung, and cut to YOUR specifications.
Please call for prices.
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Showing 5 of 888 reviews from Google Maps.Last updated 25 June 2026.View all on Google →
Spilmans Tulip Festival was a wonderful day out and a fantastic way to experience the beauty of spring. The colourful tulip fields stretched as far as the eye could see, creating stunning views and countless photo opportunities. The flowers were well maintained, with a wide variety of colours and patterns that made every section feel unique. The event was well organised, with clear signage, friendly staff, and plenty of space to walk around comfortably. There were food stalls, seating areas, and activities that made it enjoyable for visitors of all ages. The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, making it easy to spend several hours exploring the fields. It was especially enjoyable to learn more about the different tulip varieties and appreciate the work that goes into growing them. Overall, Spilmans Tulip Festival offered a memorable experience and is highly recommended for families, couples, and anyone who enjoys flowers, photography, and the outdoors.
Visited on 31/5/26 with my daughters and grandchildren. Very easy to find and ample parking. Short walk to the strawberry fields. Kids loved it and we left with 6 baskets of strawberries. I would probably advise going earlier in the day —we went at noon and struggled to find lots of very ripe strawberries. Wild flowers were gorgeous and only £5 a bunch… I now have 3 vases in the house. Very enjoyable visit and will definitely be back!
We had a great experience here in this farm when they had their first Tulip Festival. It was lovely day out with kids, beautiful bright colour Tulips. Also, we enjoyed freshly baked pizzas and fish & chips. Also, kids loved marshmallows!!! We would definitely visit next year as well.
So glad I saw the advertisement for this tulip festival. Booked an anyday ticket a few weeks in advance and looked forward to going. The weather wasn't the best initially but it wasn't super windy which meant I could take a few photos with the hope of getting one or two good ones. The tulips fields brought back very happy memories of visiting my Grandparents in The Netherlands. The tulips provided a very welcome blanket of colour. Such a beautiful sight. There was a cafe and food tent with plenty of seating. Looking forward to the strawberry pyo and the pumpkin festival later in the year. Hoping the festival will return again next year 🌷💐🌷💐🌷💐🌷
Visited the tulip festival today. The fields are so pretty. Beautiful colours and so many different varieties. We eat at in the cafe good varied menu. We had the turkish eggs.
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📍 Spilmans Strawberries, Church Farm, Sessay, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3NB
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Address
Spilmans Strawberries, Church Farm, Sessay, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3NB
Phone
+44 7754 857284Website
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