Top tips for pumpkin carving

Lyndsay Hooper, our expert pumpkin carver from Charlecote Park in Warwickshire, knows everything there is to know about creating vegetable carvings that will brighten up your neighbourhood. 

1. Choose your vegetable 

Buy local where possible and select a pumpkin, squash or other vegetable that’s in season. Whatever you choose it needs to be edible for humans and wildlife, and needs a good enough surface for marking your design on. Don’t be put off by weird-shaped produce – the more uneven, knobbly or bizarre the better, as it adds character to your creation.

2. Plan your design

Draw your design on a piece of scrap paper first so you can test it out. Remember to keep it simple. Why not try something different from the usual spooky faces and be inspired by nature? From birds, to trees and leaves, there’s lots of beauty to be found outside this autumn.

When you’re ready, draw your design out onto your pumpkin or vegetable with a pencil to create a cutting guide.

3. Cut, scoop and carve

4. Recycle and re-use

Provided your pumpkin hasn’t been painted, no part of it needs to go to waste. Everything can be recycled.

As your pumpkin starts to wilt or comes to the end of its life, refashion it into a bowl-shaped birdfeeder in the garden or on your windowsill.  Alternatively, chop it up into small pieces and add it to your – or a neighbour’s – compost heap. Your pumpkin will make fantastic food material for worms and other organisms to break down into beautiful soil for your garden or allotment.