Smashing Pumpkin Total For Local Air Ambulance From Mr Pumpkin 2020
On Friday 04th December 2020, Mr Pumpkin donated £3891.75, to the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA).
Mr Pumpkin presented volunteer Richard Fletcher Volunteer Derbyshire Community Representatives for DLRAA, with the money. They decided they would support the DLRAA in very unique way. Now in its fourth year, On 10th October 2020 they opened their farm for Pumpkin picking and they had lots of fun activities for all the family including a fairground, Pumpkin trail and homemade locally produced food and drinks from Oakfield Farm. This year was a little different to previous years, all activities were thought out to ensure visitors could socially distance and have a safe but enjoyable visit. They planted over 20 different varieties and a total of 36,000 plants, all during the middle of the first national lockdown.
To put that into context, last year they planted 30,000 and had around 4,000 pumpkins leftover and when they planted, they actually had no clue whether they would be able to open or how they could do it. In 2020 they have seen unprecedented demand for pumpkins, Mr Pumpkin explains “I think families had been living under the cloud of Covid-19 for most of the year, and they saw pumpkin picking as a way to come and enjoy some safe family fun in the fresh air”. It was so popular they reached the decision to close the patch early on Wednesday 28th October at 4pm, due to the vast majority of pumpkins having sold out and also a delude of rain forecast. Tickets were being sold in advance to manage customer numbers and protect against the risk of Covid infections. Sadly, this meant that visitors with tickets for Thursday 29th / Friday 30th / Saturday 31st October 2020 were unable to come and pick. Mr Pumpkin gave all visitors two options which was a refund or Mr Pumpkin will donate all refunded ticket revenue to Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA).
Mr Pumpkin said: May I take this opportunity to thank all those lovely visitors who have supported us over the season, and hope to see many familiar faces again, in a healthy 2021. We have had generous donations to our partner charity and thank our Mr Pumpkin community and Morrison’s Derby for all their amazing support. Wishing you all the very best of health in the future “Please keep an eye out for our posters from Mid - October next year and we are growing even more pumpkins next year”. Richard said: “We were delighted to be presented with the money from Mr Pumpkin.
DLRAA relies entirely on donations from members of the public as it receives no Government or National Lottery funding, therefore support from Mr Pumpkin really is invaluable and goes a long way to helping to keep our lifesaving service flying and saving lives.” We would like to thank all the visitors and customers for the generosity and fantastic support they have given. DLRAA was formed in 2008 and has carried out more than 18,000 Rescue missions and saved many lives in the process, each rescue mission costing on average £1,700 with DLRAA completing on average 5-6 missions every single day, 365 days a year In the Picture Mr Pumpkin
More News From Amber Valley Info
| Three community groups share funding from Alfreton and Somercotes funeral directors Three community projects supporting local children, families and people experiencing bereavement read more | |
| Halloween Themed Open Day to Raise Funds for Derby College Group's Animal Unit Families are invited to a fang-tastic day out at Broomfield Hall this October, as Derby College Group' read more | |
| Derbyshire Calls On Government To Rethink A38 Junctions Cancellation Economic growth, new homes and jobs across Derbyshire could be put at risk if the Government drops planned impro read more | |
| Pirate Takeover proves a hit across Amber Valley Pirates, performers and plenty of families brought Amber Valley's town centres to life this summer, as Amber Valley Borough Council' read more | |
| Ripley's zoo history brought to life in colourful new mural A colourful new mural celebrating Ripley's remarkable zoo history has transformed the back of the town's Town Hall. read more | |
The Amber Valley Info Noticeboard
| Pottery Close Halloween Event Taking a Break This Year The popular Halloween event at Pottery Close will not take place this year, as the organisers have not had enough time to prep read more | |
| Food waste recycling is coming to Amber Valley From June 2026, Amber Valley Borough Council will introduce weekly food waste recycling across the borough as part of a phased roll-ou read more | |
| Stallholder Bookings Now Open For The Tansley Big Day Out We're excited to announce that Tansley's Big Day Out 2026 will take place on 6th & 7th June 2026! read more | |
| Christmas and New Year bin collection dates Over the festive season, bin collections will operate on revised schedules. Some collections may take place up to two days earlier than u read more | |
| Launch Of WOMBLE MANIA! At the Heights of Abraham, Opened by Marcus Robertson, Son of Wombles author, Elisabeth Beresford, officially launched WOMBLE MANIA! at the Heights of Abraha read more | |













