Frequently asked questions
We do allow well-behaved dogs on a lead in the outdoor areas (except the fruit fields and pumpkin patch) at Cammas Hall Farm but we would request the following:
If you are purchasing food please use the outside dining area. There are covered areas in case of extreme heat or rain.
Please keep your dog on a lead at all times on the fruit farm. Dogs can be let off the lead on the Nature Trail but must remain under control at all times.
Maize Maze – dogs on a lead can enter the maze.
Fruit Fields/Pumpkin Fields/Pumpkin Patch – Dogs are not allowed.
Please clean up after your dog. There are a number of dog waste bins situated around the farm and we have a supply of bags so just ask if you have forgotten your own.
Bowls of water are provided for dogs near the entrance to the fruit fields and in the play area and we also sell locally produced dog treats and other pet products in the farm shop.
We offer a range of food at the farm including breakfast butties, lunches, cream teas and some pretty amazing homemade cakes. At busier times we also open our BBQ & wood-fired pizza oven to provide even greater choice.
Children’s options are available and we offer gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian and vegan options. If you require further information please speak to our staff on arrival who will be happy to advise you.
You are encouraged to bring your own cup for hot drinks or purchase a reusable travel cup from our farm shop. We offer a 25p discount on all hot drinks if you provide your own cup.
Although the entrance fee to the PYO has reduced, you will no longer be able to redeem any of the ticket price against the fruit you pick.
The £2 per head charge (inc booking fee) has become necessary due to a huge increase in our overheads, notably insurance and labour costs, but additionally, a minority of customers either eating or discarding fruit in the fields. More and more PYOs are being forced to close due to these issues and we don’t want to be one of them. Now in it’s 59th year, our PYO is at the heart of what we do here at Cammas Hall and we need to do everything we can to ensure it’s viability going forward.
PYO is a great British tradition and we know that many of you cherish it as we do, enjoying many family days out with us over the years and making the most of all our facilities. We want this to continue for as long as it can and we want to thank you all very much for your ongoing support.
* There is no charge for children under 2 years of age.
* On Tuesday and Friday mornings from 10am to 11am over 60's do not need to book PYO. They can also enjoy a 10% discount on tea, coffee and cake on these days when showing a valid fruit picking receipt. As the season gets underway we hope to be able to offer additional over 60’s slots so please look out for updates.
Prior to visiting, to see what is available for PYO, visit our PYO page. It is sometimes necessary for us to temporarily close a crop that is still in season to allow it to replenish.
You will be provided baskets to pick your fruit if you have not brought your own. The baskets come in different sizes (dependent on the volume you require) and you will need one basket for each type of fruit that you wish to pick. A member of staff will be happy to advise on selection if required. There is no direct charge for the baskets we supply although their weight will not be deducted when the fruit is weighed.
If you wish to bring your own basket or container, please take it to be weighed prior to picking. The weight will then be deducted from to the total when your fruit is weighed at checkout.
You can now head out to the fruit fields, look for the ‘Start Picking Here’ signs and pick away!
Please be careful that you only pick fruit in the designated areas and ensure that it is fully ripe to avoid any wastage.
When you have finished picking, return to our weighing and paying station. Please do not consume any fruit prior to paying.
If you need any further assistance, please do not hesitate to ask one of our staff who will be more than happy to help.
We do not allow picnics anywhere on site here at Cammas Hall, including the car park, fruit fields and nature trail. Only food purchased in the Tea Barn, The Cabin or Farm Shop may be consumed on site. We are a small family business and our catering is an integral part of that business which complements and supports our fruit production. In addition to this, the amount of litter generated by picnics in the past was adding an unsustainable financial burden on us. Many thanks for your support and understanding in this matter.
We only release slots for PYO a few days in advance (sometimes only a day in advance) when we have assessed our fruit availability. If you can’t see the date you require please check back nearer the time. If we are able to, we also sometimes release additional slots on previously ‘Sold Out’ days.
At the beginning of the fruit season (late May/early June) we will have very few slots available until the fruit becomes more abundant.
We are well signposted and are situated approximately eight miles south east of the market town of Bishop’s Stortford, just outside the historic village of Hatfield Broad Oak. If you are accessing the farm using the M11 please note that we are approximately 12 minutes from Junction 7A. Our postcode for navigation is CM22 7JT. This post code will take you to the entrance of the arable farm HOWEVER, the entrance to the fruit farm is located on the same road approximately half a mile away. Please follow the signs.
We have a well-stocked farm shop packed full of the best local produce we can source. As well as our own fruit, jams and honey we offer a wide selection of locally sourced produce including fresh vegetables, artisan bread, meats, cheeses, chocolate and gift items. We pride ourselves on sourcing a lot of our stock from small local producers within a 30 mile radius of the farm.
We are also proud of our association with Riverbank Nursery who supply us with a wide variety of potted plants and herbs, hanging baskets and cut flowers.
Seasoned firewood is also available sourced from the woods here on the farm.
We have plenty of free parking at Cammas Hall Farm. Disabled parking is located immediately in front of the barn.
Please ensure that you do not leave valuables in your car. Cammas Hall Fruit Farm cannot accept any liability to any customers or other visitors or their children for theft or damage (however caused) to vehicles or their possessions whilst in the car park.
Wheelchair access is possible in many areas including the strawberry fields, the Tea Barn, the Farm Shop and the outdoor seating and play area. Please note that there is uneven ground and that adverse weather will affect accessibility. You will need to bring your own wheelchair as the farm does not provide any for loan. We do have disabled parking spaces near the entrance to the barn and disabled toilet facilities. If you require any assistance, please contact a member of staff on arrival and they will be happy to help.
Yes, of course! We have baby changing facilities in our disabled toilet. High chairs are available in our Tea Barn and we have a bottle warmer if you need to have milk or food warmed. Dependant on the type of pram or buggy you should be able to access many areas of the farm however please bear in mind that it is farmland and ground can be uneven and muddy.
Given our beautiful countryside location we are an excellent destination for cyclists – many of whom stop off to refuel. We have two bike racks for parking at the front of the barn. There is also a toilet facility here for cyclists to use.
Please note that we no longer allow bikes through the farm shop and all bikes must be left in the bike parking area of the car park – please bring a padlock or borrow one from us. Tables for the exclusive use of cyclists are situated next to the bike racks. Please place and collect your order inside the barn.
We are able to offer basic puncture repair tools and have a small selection of inner tubes for sale – please ask a member of staff.
We are a member of The Cake Escape initiative which is encouraging residents to ‘grab their bikes and cycle through some of the most beautiful places in Essex’.
Cammas Hall Fruit Farm is a working farm and care should be taken on uneven surfaces. Please wear suitable footwear (i.e. flat-soled shoes like trainers) for picking fruit . Even in dry weather the ground may be muddy due to our irrigation systems. It is also advisable to wear long sleeved and long legged clothing to help protect from scratches and stings.
Cammas Hall Fruit Farm cannot accept any liability to any customer or other visitors or their children for any injury sustained while on the farm so please be vigilant. Children should be supervised at all times.
Our maze is open from late July/early August until the end of October and additional charges apply. Please look out for updates.
Please note that we do sometimes need to close the maze if we have experienced heavy rainfall as the ground becomes slippery and unsafe. The ground can be uneven and therefore unsuitable for some makes of pushchair/buggy.
Please do not pick the corn in the Maize Maze. It is not edible!
We can only accept large groups if pre-booked. If you are a group of more than 12 people please fill out our large group booking form.
If you are a group smaller than 12 attending from a college, school, nursery or club please also let us know in advance by emailing office@cammashall.co.uk
We offer a schools package which includes a talk about fruit farming, a tour of the farm and a punnet of PYO fruit per child. Please contact us for pricing and further information.
We are pleased to offer children’s parties at Cammas Hall Farm for up to 30 children. Please take a look here for more information about our children’s parties. Bookings can be taken between May and September.
Any lost property that we find will be kept until the end of the season. Please send a full description of the item to office@cammashall.co.uk with your contact details and we will get back to you.
Raspberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, blackberries and blueberries are all suitable for freezing and can often be a welcome summer treat in the depths of winter. If you are intending to freeze your fruit, then it is best to pick the fruit the same day that you intend to freeze it. Remove any overripe or blemished fruits as well as any stalks. Spread your fruits out a tray so they are not touching each other and then lay the tray in the freezer. Leave for a few hours and when all the fruits are frozen and hard, transfer them into freezer bags or tubs, squeezing out as much air as possible from the bag and return them to the freezer for long term storage. Fruit should last for about a year – they will last longer but the quality will begin to deteriorate.
You can freeze strawberries but they will lose all their texture when thawed but can still be used to make sauces, jams, smoothies etc.
Our Environmental Policy:
Cammas Hall Farm are committed to putting the philosophy of reduce, reuse and recycle at the heart of all we do.
Our objectives:
– Provide food packaging (e.g. sandwich containers) made from sustainable biomass sources which is biodegradable e.g. PLA
– Reduce the use of disposable takeaway cups by offering a discount to customers who bring their own cup and selling reusable coffee cups in our farm shop.
– Reduce the use of carrier bags by providing paper bags for fresh produce in our farm shop and encourage customers to bring their own bags.
– Encourage customers to bring their own containers for PYO and supply recyclable cardboard punnets for our customers use.
– Provide recycling bins around the farm site and reduce the amount of waste that we produce.
– Sell predominantly locally sourced produce in our farm shop to reduce the environmental impact of the transport network.
– Source services and products from suppliers who share our environmental ambitions.
– Manage and maintain the different spaces around the farm to encourage biodiversity.
– Manage the woodland on the farm by coppicing to produce a sustainable firewood supply that is used to fire our Pizza Oven .
– Collect rainwater from the roofs of our farm buildings to be stored in our reservoirs for use in crop irrigation.
Pumpkins can be seen growing in our fields throughout the summer months until they are harvested and moved to our Pumpkin Patch for sale in October. We ask that nobody picks the pumpkins whilst they are still growing in the fields, prior to our Halloween Event. You can then come along to our Pumpkin Patch and select your pumpkins and pay for them at the PYO counter where they are weighed and priced according to weight.
