Children's Immersive Mystery Trail

Join us for a magical family adventure this autumn…

Meet the Keeper of the Vineyard and help restore the magic of the Harvest Moon by solving the mystery of the missing key.

Each child will decorate their very own wooden Harvest Key to become a Harvest Moon Explorer, before setting off with the Keeper on a story-led trail around the vineyard. Along the way, they’ll follow clues, search for the missing pieces and enjoy games and activities as the mystery unfolds.

Can your little explorers help the Keeper restore the Harvest Moon Magic so the autumn celebrations can begin? 🌙✨

Once the mystery has been solved, each child will choose their own pumpkin from the vineyard before making their way to the Rustic Barn for pumpkin decorating and marshmallow toasting, enjoyed together as a family and at your own pace.

Then cosy up and stay a little longer, with seasonal food and drinks, Birchden Vineyards wines, local beers and our Bavarian BBQ all available to purchase on the day.

Don’t forget your camera, as there’ll be plenty of lovely autumn photo opportunities along the way.

Every child ticket includes:

• Entry to the Keeper-led Harvest Moon experience
  
• 1 x 18–25cm pumpkin for each child to choose, decorate and take home
  
• 2 x marshmallows for toasting
  
• Wooden Harvest Key keepsake for each child to decorate and take home
  
• Pumpkin decorating
  
• Complimentary colouring sheets
  
• Access to seasonal photo opportunities throughout the experience
  

Adult tickets include entry to the Keeper-led experience alongside your child, a warm drink on arrival and access to all event areas.

We recommend allowing around 90 minutes to enjoy the full experience. The first part is led by the Keeper, while choosing and decorating your pumpkin and marshmallow toasting are enjoyed together as a family at your own pace.

Additional pumpkins, marshmallows, food, drinks and seasonal extras will be available to purchase on the day.

Please note that Birchden Vineyards is a working farm with open water. Children remain in the care and supervision of their accompanying adult throughout the entire visit and may not be left unattended at any time. Some of the games will involve water so please wear waterproofs, or bring a change of clothes, just in case.

Please review our Terms & Conditions and FAQs for all the information about what to expect on the day.

 

Access to the Autum Magic parking is via our field entrance on Station Road closest to Groombridge. Please use the What 3 Words ///barrel.sublime.supplier

Check the link on the map section that is at the bottom of this page.

Please Note: If you have purchased tickets for 3:00, please park at the Birchden Vineyards Cafe car park.

Please have a look at our FAQs below, and if your query is not covered, just contact us at hello@birchdenvineyards.co.uk to ask.

What is included in the child ticket?

Each child ticket includes:

• Entry to the Keeper-led Harvest Moon experience
  
• One medium-sized pumpkin for each child to choose, decorate and take home
  
• 2 x marshmallows for toasting
  
• A wooden Harvest Key keepsake for each child to decorate and take home
  
• Pumpkin decorating
  
• Complimentary colouring sheets
  
• Access to seasonal photo opportunities throughout the experience
  

Additional pumpkins, marshmallows, food, drinks and seasonal extras will be available to purchase on the day.

What does the adult ticket include?

Adult tickets include entry to the Keeper-led experience alongside your child, a warm drink on arrival, access to all event areas and complimentary parking.

Please note that, as we are a working farm with uneven ground and open water, all children must be accompanied by a responsible adult throughout their visit and may not be left unattended at any time.

How long does the experience last?

We recommend allowing around 90 minutes to enjoy the full Autumn Magic experience.

The first part of your visit is a timed, Keeper-led experience, so we kindly ask all guests to arrive at least 15 minutes before their booked session to allow plenty of time for parking and check-in.

Once the Keeper-led part has finished, families can choose their pumpkin from the vineyard before heading to the Barn for pumpkin decorating and marshmallow toasting, which can be enjoyed together at your own pace.

Is this a guided experience?

The first part of Autumn Magic is led by the Keeper of the Vineyard. We ask families to stay with the Keeper and their group as they make their way around the trail.

Once the Keeper-led experience has finished, families can choose their pumpkin and continue to the Barn, where pumpkin decorating and marshmallow toasting are enjoyed together at your own pace.

Children remain in the care and supervision of their accompanying adult throughout the entire visit.

The surrounding property is a private family home, so we kindly ask that you stay within the designated Autumn Magic areas and stick to the marked trail.

Is parking available?

Yes. Complimentary parking is included in your ticket price.

Please arrive 15 minutes before your allocated session to allow time for parking and check-in. As guests will be arriving and departing in timed sessions, arriving within your allocated window helps us keep everything running smoothly.

Please see our parking information below for details of where to park for your particular session.

Do I need to book in advance?

Yes. All Children’s Autumn Magic Mystery Trail sessions must be booked in advance. Spaces are limited, and we expect popular dates to sell out quickly.

You do not need a ticket to visit the café or enjoy Autumn Magic in the Barn.

Is the event suitable for all ages?

The experience has been designed primarily with younger primary school-aged children in mind, 3 -10 as this is the age group most likely to enjoy the story and activities.

Children under two are free and do not require a paid ticket, but they do need to be accounted for for health and safety purposes, so please select the Child Under Two option when booking.

Any child wishing to take part in the included activities, including choosing and decorating their own pumpkin, marshmallow toasting and decorating a Harvest Key, will require a child ticket.

Do adults need a ticket?

Yes. All adults attending the Keeper-led Children’s Autumn Magic Mystery Trail, including carers, require a ticket.

Will food and drinks be available?

Yes! There’ll be plenty to eat and drink during your visit.

The café and coffee truck will be open as usual, serving coffees, cakes and our café menu, alongside Tommy’s homemade soups and seasonal specials.

You can also head into the Autumn Magic Barn, where we’ll be firing up the Bavarian BBQ, with a bar serving Birchden Vineyards wines, local beers and seasonal drinks.

A complimentary warm drink for adults is included with your ticket and will be available during the Keeper-led part of the experience.

Can I just visit the café or Barn?

Absolutely. You don’t need a Children’s Autumn Magic Mystery Trail ticket to visit the café or enjoy Autumn Magic in the Barn.

Everyone is welcome to come along for food and drinks, our Bavarian BBQ and Barn bar, with pumpkin decorating and marshmallow toasting also available to purchase separately.

If you are taking part in the ticketed Mystery Trail, children must be accompanied by a paying adult and remain under their supervision throughout.

Can I buy extra pumpkins?

Each paying child ticket includes one medium-sized pumpkin to choose, decorate and take home as part of the Autumn Magic experience.

Children under two who do not have a paid child ticket do not have a pumpkin included. If you would like them to have their own pumpkin, or would simply like an additional pumpkin, these can be purchased for £5 each, subject to availability.

Additional pumpkins can be purchased on the day. Pumpkin sizes, shapes and colours will naturally vary, and we cannot guarantee a particular size or appearance.

Can I buy extra marshmallows?

Yes. Two marshmallows for toasting are included with each child ticket. Additional marshmallows will be available to purchase on the day if you wish.

Will there be photo opportunities?

Absolutely! We’ll have lots of lovely autumn photo moments throughout the experience, so don’t forget your camera.

What does the craft session involve?

Each child will be given a plain wooden Harvest Key to decorate however they like using the acrylic pens and craft materials provided. It’s a lovely little keepsake to take home and remember their day.

What does the pumpkin decorating include?

Once children have chosen their pumpkin, they’ll take it to the Barn to decorate together with their family at their own pace.

We’ll provide acrylic pens (similar to Posca pens) and stickers so children can get creative with their designs.

Please note that our acrylic markers are not suitable for children under the age of three, so stickers will be available for younger children. Aprons will also be provided, but craft materials may still stain clothing, so we recommend wearing clothes you don’t mind getting a little messy.

Is fancy dress encouraged?

Very much so! Fancy dress is very welcome and we’d love to see your little explorers dressed up for their autumn adventure.

Please make sure costumes are practical for an outdoor experience and suitable for the weather, with sturdy footwear and plenty of warm layers.

As marshmallow toasting involves an open fire, please also take extra care with loose or flowing costumes and remember that some fancy-dress materials can be highly flammable.

What should we wear?

This is an outdoor autumn event, so please come prepared for the British weather. We strongly recommend dressing in warm layers and bringing a waterproof coat. Wellies or sturdy outdoor footwear, such as trainers or walking boots, are essential, particularly if the ground is wet or muddy.

Some of the games and activities along the trail involve water, so we recommend children wear waterproofs or bring a spare set of clothes, just in case they get a little wet along the way.

Although aprons will be provided during the craft activities, please be aware that acrylic pens and other craft materials may stain clothing. We therefore recommend dressing children in clothes that you don’t mind getting a little muddy, wet or messy.

Can I bring a pushchair?

Pushchairs are welcome, but please bear in mind that much of the experience takes place outdoors across natural, uneven ground, which may be wet or muddy depending on the weather.

An all-terrain pushchair is advisable where possible, particularly after rain. We would recommend using a baby carrier instead where practical.

Is the event wheelchair accessible?

We are committed to making our events as accessible as possible. However, the Mystery Trail takes place across working vineyard grounds, fields and uneven outdoor terrain, so unfortunately the full trail is not suitable for wheelchair users, and we are very sorry.

The café is wheelchair accessible.

We encourage anyone with accessibility or limited-mobility requirements to contact us at hello@birchdenvineyards.co.uk before booking so we can discuss your individual needs. Where possible, we will do our best to explore alternative arrangements or adaptations to help you enjoy your visit to Birchden Vineyards.

What is the parking situation?

If you have tickets for the 3:00pm session, please park in the main Birchden Vineyards café car park.

For all other session times, designated Autumn Magic parking will be in our near field, close to the start of the trail. The entrance is on Station Road, nearest to Groombridge village, and will be clearly signposted on the day.

This is approximately 300m from the café and main parking area.

If you are not taking part in the ticketed Mystery Trail and are simply visiting the café or Autumn Magic in the Barn, please use the usual café car park rather than the Autumn Magic parking area.

Please contact us before your visit if you have any accessibility or mobility requirements relating to parking.

What happens if we’re running late?

If you’re running late, please still make your way to us and we’ll do our best to help you join your allocated group.

As the Keeper-led part of the experience runs to a set schedule, late arrivals may miss part of the trail. Unfortunately, as group sizes are carefully managed, we’re unable to move late arrivals into alternative sessions.

What happens if it rains?

Autumn Magic is an outdoor autumn experience and will go ahead in most weather conditions – a little British weather is all part of autumn!

Some elements of the experience are sheltered, but please come prepared with warm layers, waterproofs and suitable outdoor footwear.

Some games and activities also involve water, so we recommend bringing waterproof clothing or a change of clothes for children.

Is marshmallow toasting supervised?

Marshmallow toasting takes place in the Barn and is enjoyed together as a family rather than as part of the Keeper-led experience.

We use appropriately designed equipment to maintain distance from the fire and have taken precautions to make the activity as safe as possible. However, marshmallow toasting involves an open fire, so children must be supervised and assisted by their parent or guardian at all times.

Please also allow marshmallows to cool before eating.

Are tickets refundable?

Tickets are non-refundable unless the event is cancelled by Birchden Vineyards.

If you are unable to come and would like to send someone else in your place, we can transfer the name on your booking.

Can we stay after our session?

Of course! Once the Keeper-led part of your experience has finished, you can choose your pumpkin and head to the Barn to enjoy pumpkin decorating and marshmallow toasting together at your own pace.

Afterwards, you’re very welcome to stay and enjoy the café and Autumn Magic Barn, where we’ll be serving our usual café menu and barista coffee alongside seasonal food and drinks, our Bavarian BBQ, Birchden Vineyards wines and local beers.

On Autumn Magic days, we’ll be staying open until 6pm, so there’s plenty of time to cosy up and enjoy the autumn atmosphere.

If you have booked the 3:00pm session, please remember that you’ll need to park in the main Birchden Vineyards café car park rather than the designated Autumn Magic parking area.

Access to the Keeper-led Mystery Trail itself is limited to your booked session and re-entry to the trail is not possible once your session has finished.

Autumn Magic - Terms and Conditions of Sale

Please take the time to read our terms and conditions before booking, or in advance of your visit.  We want Autumn Magic to be a relaxed, memorable and enjoyable
experience for the whole family. By booking tickets, you agree to follow these
terms and any reasonable instructions given by the Birchden Vineyards team
during your visit.

Tickets and booking

• Tickets for Birchden Vineyards’ Autumn Magic must be booked in advance and are subject to availability.
• All guests attending the experience require a valid ticket, with the exception of babies in arms, who may attend free of charge.
• Child tickets include the full 90-minute immersive guided experience, one pumpkin to take home, two marshmallows, a wooden key harvest charm craft activity, pumpkin decorating and access to seasonal photo opportunities.
• Adult tickets include entry to the guided experience, a warm drink to enjoy
  while you accompany your child(ren) and access to the café and event areas.
• Food, drinks and additional seasonal items from the café are not included in the ticket price and are available to purchase separately after the
  experience.

 Children and supervision

• The Autumn Magic experience has been designed primarily for children of
  younger primary school age.
• All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult for the entire
  duration of their visit. Children must not be left unattended at any time.
• Parents and guardians remain responsible for supervising children throughout the experience, including during pumpkin picking and decorating, craft activities and marshmallow toasting.
• Marshmallow toasting takes place around an open fire. Although appropriate safety measures are in place, children must be supervised and assisted by a parent or guardian at all times.

 Arrival and timings

Each Autumn Magic session lasts approximately 90 minutes and is a timed, guided experience.

• Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your allocated session to allow time for parking, check-in and getting settled.
• Sessions will begin at the advertised time. If you arrive late, we will do our best to help you join your group, but your session will still finish at the
  scheduled time.
• Unfortunately, late arrivals cannot be transferred to an alternative session.
• Once your guided experience has finished, you are very welcome to stay and enjoy the Blackbird Café and wider visitor facilities. Access to the Autumn Magic activity areas is limited to your booked session and re-entry to these areas is not available after your session has ended.

Food and drink

• The Blackbird Café will be open 9am - 6pm to enjoy after your experience, serving seasonal food, drinks, snacks and Halloween treats, including warming drinks, Bavarian BBQ and wine.
• Drinks are not included in the ticket price unless specifically stated.
• Outside food is not permitted to be consumed on site.
• If you have a food allergy or dietary requirement, please speak to a member
  of the café team before ordering. We cannot guarantee an entirely allergen-free environment.

Weather and outdoor conditions

• Autumn Magic is primarily an outdoor experience and will go ahead in most weather conditions.
• Some elements will take place in sheltered areas, but guests should be prepared for changeable autumn weather.
• We recommend warm layers, waterproof clothing and sturdy footwear (e.g. hiking boots) or wellies, as the ground will be wet. 
• Birchden Vineyards is a working farm with uneven, wet ground and open water. Please take care when moving around the site and follow instructions from the Birchden team and event staff.

 Farm safety

• Birchden Vineyards is a working farm and family home. Guests must remain within designated visitor areas and follow instructions from Birchden Vineyards staff and event guides.
• Please take particular care around uneven ground, vehicles, equipment, open water, fire and other potential hazards.
• Parents and guardians remain responsible for the safety and supervision of children throughout their visit.
• Please be aware that the route to the Autumn Magic experience passes close to our working bee hives. Children must be supervised closely at all times,
  particularly when walking past the hives, and guests should remain on the
  designated footpath.
• If you or anyone in your group has a known allergy to bee stings or other
  insect stings, you should take appropriate precautions and bring your prescribed EpiPen® (or other emergency medication) with you.
• Please ensure that any accompanying adults are aware of the allergy in the case of a child and know how to administer emergency medication if required.
• Birchden Vineyards cannot guarantee that guests will not encounter bees or other insects while visiting the farm.

 Pumpkins and additional purchases

• Each paying child ticket includes one pumpkin (approximately 14–20cm) to pick and decorate as part of the Autumn Magic experience.
• Additional pumpkins can be purchased on the day. Babies and children under 2 who do not require a child ticket do not have a pumpkin included. If you would like them to have their own pumpkin, or if you would like to purchase an additional pumpkin, these can be purchased for £5 each, subject to availability.
• Pumpkin sizes, shapes and colours will naturally vary, and we cannot guarantee a particular size or appearance. All additional pumpkins are subject to availability and may sell out.
• Each paying child ticket includes two marshmallow to toast as part of the Autumn Magic experience. Additional marshmallows may be purchased on the day for £1 each, subject to availability.

Children must be closely supervised by their accompanying adult at all times while toasting marshmallows and around the fire area.

• Please speak to a member of our team before purchasing if you have any allergies or dietary requirements. We cannot guarantee that our marshmallows or preparation areas are free from allergens or cross-contamination.

 Pumpkin Painting and Craft Activities

• The pumpkin painting and harvest moon key craft experiences both involve the use of water-based acrylic paint markers, similar to posca pens. The pens are UK product safety approved and EN 71-3 compliant.
• Parents and guardians are responsible for supervising children in their care
  throughout the experience and for ensuring that children use all craft materials appropriately and in accordance with staff instructions.
• Paint markers and other craft materials are not intended for consumption and
  must not be placed in the mouth or used on the face, skin or clothing.
  Children should wash their hands after participating in craft activities
  and before eating or drinking.
• Acrylic markers are not suitable for children under the age of 3, and we provide stickers for younger children to decorate their pumpkin.
• We recommend that children and accompanying adults wear clothing suitable for arts and crafts activities. While reasonable care is taken in the selection and use of materials, paints and craft materials may stain clothing, footwear or personal belongings. We will be providing craft aprons, and parents are required to take responsibility for the use of these to protect any clothing.
• Birchden Vineyards cannot accept responsibility for staining or damage to clothing or personal belongings, except where caused by our negligence.
• Parents and guardians should consider any known allergies, sensitivities or additional needs before allowing a child to participate and should speak to a member of the team before the activity if they have any concerns.
• Participation in craft activities is optional. Alternative participation arrangements can be discussed with a member of the team where reasonably practicable.
• Children must follow instructions given by Birchden Vineyards staff. We reserve the right to stop a child from using craft materials where we reasonably
  believe their use may present a risk to themselves or others.
• Nothing in these terms excludes or limits any liability which cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

 Accessibility and pushchairs

• Pushchairs are permitted, however please note much of the experience takes place outdoors across uneven and possibly wet and muddy ground and field areas, which may make access more difficult depending on weather conditions. An all-terrain pushchair may be more advisable, if possible. Please bring a pushchair at your own risk.
• Parts of the experience are challenging for guests with limited mobility due to uneven ground, especially if wet. Please contact us before booking at hello@birchdenvineyards.co.uk so that we can discuss your needs and, where possible, explore suitable adaptations or alternative arrangements.
• We’re very sorry, the mystery trail is unfortunately not suitable for
  wheelchairs due to the uneven and wet ground and distances involved.
  Wheelchair users are very welcome to enjoy our café area and we are happy
  to help you make alternative arrangements so you can still enjoy the experience. Please contact us at hello@birchdenvineyards.co.uk
  to discuss. 

 Fancy dress

• Guests are encouraged to dress up for Halloween, but please ensure costumes and footwear are suitable for an outdoor autumn experience.
• Guests are encouraged to dress up for Halloween and join in the autumn magic, but please ensure costumes, clothing and footwear are suitable for an outdoor autumn experience.
• Please be mindful that some fancy-dress costumes and accessories can be highly flammable. Children wearing fancy dress must be closely supervised by their accompanying adult, particularly around the marshmallow-toasting area and any other heat or flame sources.
• Loose, trailing or highly flammable costumes and accessories should be kept well away from open flames and heat sources. Guests may be asked to remove or secure any item that our team considers unsuitable for an activity on safety grounds.
• We recommend checking the fire-safety and care information on children's
  costumes before attending.

Smoking and vaping

• Birchden Vineyards is a completely smoke and vape-free site due to the fire risk associated with the vineyard and surrounding countryside. Smoking and
  vaping are not permitted anywhere on site, including at the Blackbird Café
  or during the Autumn Magic experience.
• We reserve the right to ask guests to stop smoking or vaping, and guests who refuse may be asked to leave the site.

 Photography

• There will be seasonal photo opportunities throughout the experience and guests are welcome to take photographs for personal use.
• Birchden Vineyards or its appointed photographers may take photographs or video footage during the event for promotional purposes. We will make reasonable efforts to avoid photographing guests who do not wish to appear in promotional material. Please speak to a member of the team on arrival if you have any concerns.

 Cancellations and refunds

• Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for an alternative date or
  session, except where the event is cancelled by Birchden Vineyards.
• If Birchden Vineyards needs to cancel the event, ticket holders will be
  contacted and offered a refund or alternative arrangement, as appropriate.
• As this is an outdoor event, the experience will normally continue in wet or cold weather. Cancellation due to weather will only take place where
  conditions are considered unsafe or it is not reasonably possible to deliver the experience.

Changes to the experience

• While we will make every effort to deliver the experience as described, elements of the event may need to be changed, adapted or removed due to weather, safety, operational requirements or circumstances beyond our control.
• We reserve the right to make reasonable changes to timings, activities or arrangements where necessary to ensure the safety and enjoyment of our guests.