Whether it was baking banana bread, ordering copious amounts of takeaway, or jumping about in the living room to a backing track of Joe Wicks, Covid-19 and its various restrictions certainly had us experimenting with some interesting new fads and habits.

However, perhaps the one that proved most popular last year was the incredibly Instagram-worthy trip to the pumpkin patch. 

Kitted out in uniforms of wellies and woolly hats, families took to the fields in their droves to unearth their own prized pumpkin ready for carving. 

And with spooky season fast approaching, we've found five Worcestershire farms that have been nurturing the latest crop of pumpkins ready for this year's harvest.

Top Barn Farm - Worcester Rd, Holt Heath, Worcester, WR6 6NH

This family run farm has been working hard to prime their pumpkins for pickers to start their Halloween fun early, and they've confirmed that they'll be ready for customers from this weekend.

Pumpkin picking will be available throughout the farm shop's normal opening hours, which are 9am-5pm every day except for Sunday when the shop closes at 4pm.

Clive's Fruit Farm - Upton Upon Severn, Worcester, WR8 0SA

Nestled between the Malvern Hills and the River Severn, Clive's Fruit Farm proves a lovely spot to pick a pumpkin with the family.

And with a coffee shop on site, a warm drink to bring you back up to temperature after spending time on the fields is never far away. 

They couldn't yet confirm what date they'll be officially opening their pumpkin fields, but they did say that visitors will be able to harvest their pumpkins during current fruit picking times.

As it stands, the fields are open from 10am-4pm, with the fruit picking closing an hour earlier on Sundays.

They've told people to keep a keen eye on their Facebook page for news on a date.

Bell's Farm - Chadwick Bank, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 9SA

Bell's Farm is gearing up for another busy year of pumpkin picking after last year proved so popular that they almost had to shut the gates for fear of having too many people in the shop at one time.

As always, pickers will be able to scour the acres for their perfect pumpkin from 9am-5pm, seven days a week.

The manager of Bell's Farm Shop said: "We haven't got a firm date yet, but we'll start selling them roughly three weeks before Halloween. 

"I'd recommend buying two weeks before as pumpkins don't keep that long after they've been carved.

"We've got plenty, so there is no rush to get down as we shouldn't run out.

"We aren't sure if it will be as crazy as last year, we nearly had to shut the gates at one point because we had so many people on the farm."

Chadbury Farm - Worcester Rd, Evesham, WR11 4TD

Chadbury Farm Shop is embarking on a new adventure this October as it is opening its doors to pumpkin pickers for the first time. 

Pumpkins prices will range from £1-£10 depending on their size, and they'll be available to pick exclusively on the weekend from Saturday, October 9 onwards.

Revellers will be able to stroll onto the pumpkin patch, owned by the Phipps family, between 10am-2pm.

Churchfields - Salwarpe, Droitwich, WR9 0AH

Churchfields is holding its 2021 Pumpkin Festival from Saturday, October 9 and will run on weekends only until Sunday, October 17.

From the following Saturday, October 23, the Pumpkin Festival will be open every day until Halloween.

Families can pick their own pumpkin, wheelbarrow it to the outdoor carving barn and choose the spookiest face before staff do the handywork.

From October 2 and 3, the pick your own pumpkin patch will also be open for those looking to pick a pumpkin to take home and do the carving themselves.

Families wishing to attend the festival will need to book a pass online.

This year, the pumpkin festival also includes entrance into the Scary Fairy Trail and the Maize Maze.