A farm in Dishforth has created a pick your own strawberry and raspberry experience suitable for older people, wheelchair users and people with prams.
It seems such a simple idea but not many pick your own farms around the country offer it.
Mark and Mary Bean run Beau Fraise’s Fruity Berry Fruit Farm, which can be found on Dishforth Road in Dishforth, near Ripon.
The idea was sparked by Mary’s sister, who uses a wheelchair, as well as some of the farm’s previous customers who struggled with access.
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A lot of work has gone into the project.
It has taken about 11 months, 35,000 welds, 70 tonnes of soil, 4,000 strawberry plants and 1,500 raspberry plants but it is now open to the public six days a week. It is closed on Tuesdays.
Mark, who has done the majority of work himself, told the Stray Ferret:
“We have been doing strawberry picking for about 15 years but we decided we needed to make a change for this year.
“This has been a lot of work, a mammoth task really, but it has also been a labour of love.
“People love it, the word seems to be spreading quite quickly and I have lots of messages from people interested. So we have been quite busy already.”
Now the farm is up and running, Mark and Mary are planning to set aside a day a week when only those who are elderly and disabled can go.
The first of those days was held today when a group from Hampden House care home in Harrogate went for a special visit.