Words by Ed King
The annual Halloween Pumpkin Hunt comes back to Short Heath Playing Fields on Saturday 2 November – marking the fifth year in a row the popular event has been held on the local park land.
Completely free to attend, and open to adults and children of all ages, the Pumpkin Hunt runs on Short Heath Playing Fields from 5pm until 7pm – with the sign in tent located at the start of the hunt by the entrance on Short Heath Road, next to the number 28 bus stop.
Children are invited to dress up in their scariest Halloween costumes and search for the hidden pumpkins that have been scattered around the playing fields, making a drawing of the individually carved pumpkin faces as they go. The at the end of the hunt all children taking part will get a special Halloween treat.
There will also be a costume competition with prizes for the best dress boy, girl, child under five, and adult.
Refreshments are also available and served by the Short Heath Wombles, a community group made up of local residents who keep the park free of litter and help support the site’s regular sporting events.
Organised every year by Short Heath Fields Trust (SHFT), and held on the green space the Trust fought to save, the Halloween Pumpkin Hunt attracts families from across the Erdington constituency – from Kingstanding to Castle Vale.
Ahead of the Pumpkin Hunt on Saturday 2 November, a spokesperson from SHFT told Erdington Local: “The Pumpkin Hunt is a really important part if our calendar and something we look forward to each year.
“It’s great to see families come back each year to support us.”
They added: “We see people from all along the 28 bus route so it’s important to us we make sure it’s free to all those that attend.
“This will be our fifth Pumkin Hunt and we can’t wait to see familiar faces return, as well as newcomers.”
Known for its spooky secrets, outlandish costumes, and welcoming SHFT members (even if they are dressed as scary clowns or plague doctors), the annual event has become a badge of community spirit with organisers saying it helps prove the value of retaining green spaces in an urban setting.
Running for half a decade, the popular family event has always been free to attend with every child attending going home with something special.
However, this year SHFT were almost force to cancel the Pumpkin Hunt as squatters had left significant rubbish in the neighbouring Bleak Hill Park, including tents and even a microwave, which the Trust had been petitioning Birmingham City Council (BCC) for months to remove.
Erdington Local has been shown communication from SHFT confirming BCC had promised to clear the refuse by 28 August, and more emails dating back to the beginning of September as the Trust continue to chase local councillors and the Council to make good on their promise.
SHFT have confirmed to Erdington Local the area is now cordoned off ahead of the Pumkin Hunt and will be staffed throughout the event to ensure no one can gain access, with appropriate Halloween messages warning people away.
Short Heath Fields Trust’s Halloween Pumpkin Hunt will be held from 5pm to 7pm at Short Heath Playing Fields on Saturday 2 November, accessible through the entrance on Short Heath Road.
The Pumkin Hunt is free to attend and open to children of all ages.
For more on the Short Heath Fields Trust Halloween Pumpkin Hunt visit www.facebook.com/events/1307785603535839
For more on Short Heath Fields Trust visit www.shortheathfieldstrust.godaddysites.com