James and Claire Scott rekindled their youthful romance in 2019 – and now run the farm that has been in James’ family for generations
James and Claire Scott run the farm with Claire’s daughter Lana helping out(Image: Submitted)
When Claire Scott married James Scott of the Tickton family farm, along with it came a career change that she was never expecting. Formerly working in design and photography, Claire is now fully committed to developing Tickton Farm, near Beverley, into a place where people can come to relax, walk their dogs, pick wildflowers or sip a coffee from her horse box café.
The Scotts, who married in 2023, used to date in their early twenties and reunited years later, just before the Covid pandemic took hold. Claire wanted to get involved in the farm and remembers vividly the day the pumpkin patch idea was formed. “I said I’d like to set up a business on the farm. We were in a car park waiting to be seen at the doctors. We were waiting for an appointment and you weren’t allowed to get out of your car. I said ‘That’s it. I’m opening a pumpkin field so people can come out and get some fresh air’.”
Fast forward six years, and Claire’s dream has become a reality, with hundreds of people from Beverley and further afield descending on Tickton Farm, on the A1035 near Tickton, in the autumn. Pumpkin picking season is in full swing and the fields will be open until early November. Visitors can warm up at the Harvest Moon Café, run by Claire from a converted horse box. She sells home-made cakes, brownies, coffee and impressive hot chocolates that visitors can enjoy inside the farm’s Tipi Tent. At other times of the year, Claire plants wildflowers, which visitors are welcome to come and pick. The farm has been shortlisted for an award at the Remarkable East Yorkshire Tourism Awards.
The farm has been in James’ family since 1938. James’ parents, John and Von, are still heavily involved in the operations. John, now in his 80s, brings decades of farming knowledge and experience to the family business. Having seen the land change over the years, he now enjoys watching people discover the fields in a completely different way – wandering among the flowers, choosing pumpkins and making memories with their families. James remains at the heart of operations, preparing the land and growing crops. One of their biggest sellers is potatoes. Spuds from Tickton Farm are used by many local fish and chip shops to make their chips.
Claire’s 12-year-old daughter, Lana, has been heavily involved in the family venture for the last five years. She helps grow young pumpkins in the 32ft polytunnel, assists in the café and loves to tell customers how the pumpkins are grown. Claire said Lana and step-dad James are “like besties”.
One visitor told Claire: “We know it’s hard work and we can see how much you juggle but you’ve created a mini paradise”. She said it is one of the “nicest” pieces of feedback she has received. “Around the fields we have a really nice walk,” Claire said. “I’ve got my horse box cafe, people can bring their dogs and have a coffee and a cake. We’ve kept it quite relaxed. We don’t have big prices or funfairs. We’ve kept it quite niche. Our USP is that we are a farm, we don’t have the fancy café, it’s quite rustic. I’ve always loved getting my hands mucky, gardening in the soil and being outdoors, and having that come later in life is perfect for me.”
Claire said this year’s pumpkins are “the best crop to date”. “We’ve had the most beautiful wildflowers and sunflowers, despite such a dry summer,” she said. “Everything starts from seed, and we put so much time and care into growing our flowers and pumpkins by hand. I’m constantly researching and learning more about plants, soil and how we can adapt to the weather.
“We’re only a small family business, and there’s an awful lot of work that goes on behind the scenes. Having James’s dad, who’s in his 80s, here to see people enjoying the fields in a completely different way is really special.
“We want people to come along, enjoy the countryside, pick their pumpkins, take photographs, have a coffee and cake, and make memories. Every visit and every purchase genuinely makes a difference to us. We also want the farm to be accessible and welcoming, so we offer free parking, no entrance fee and no booking is required. ”
On a recent rare night out for the couple, James and Claire were visiting an old haunt, Spiders in Hull, where the idea of a gothic-themed Halloween event was formed. “Every now and then we let our hair down and return to Spiders,” Claire said. “We went the other week and I said we should do a Goths & Gourds weekend.” She hopes the weekend will bring together people of all ages, from children to teenagers, mums and dads to the elderly.
The Goths & Gourds event will bring together those who love Halloween, photography, alternative fashion and all things autumnal. The event is free to attend and will run all day on Sunday 25 October, with Claire hoping for a spooky, atmospheric early morning mist to kick the day off. There will be a prize for the best dressed and visitors are encouraged to wear their favourite steampunk, gothic or Halloween-themed outfits.
Tickton Farm is open from Friday to Sunday to the public, and hosts specific SEN-friendly visits on Wednesdays. It will be open until November 1 and will open for the entire week of October half term. To find out more about Tickton Farm, its pumpkin patch, seasonal flowers and upcoming events, visit the farm’s website or follow Tickton Farm on social media. @ticktonfarm
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