Family Hallowe’en fun at the Gardens of Easton Lodge near Great Dunmow on Sunday October 19

Hallowe’en fun for the whole family is on offer at the Gardens of Easton Lodge on Sunday October 19.

There will be a host of activities, stalls, live music and the chance to explore the autumnal surroundings at the venue in Little Easton, near Great Dunmow.

Children, who are encouraged to attend wearing Hallowe’en costumes, can enjoy a spooky trail in the Lime Wood as well as a range of games.

There will also be face painting, crafts and a guess-the-weight-of-the-pumpkin competition.

Entertainment will be provided by Bishop’s Stortford Ukulele Society, whose members pride themselves on having fun performing quirky arrangements of well-known songs, such as, appropriately, Bat Out of Hell.

The trust’s volunteers have worked really hard this year to produce vegetables and to pick and jam all the soft fruit. The open day will be like the trust’s harvest festival, with autumn produce including lots of chillies and peppers, beetroot and possibly the last sweetcorn, some squashes and a well-stocked jam and jelly tombola stall. Other stalls will offer local honey, gin and crafts.

Visitors can also enjoy the last of the year’s flowers in the gardens – the dahlias, roses, verbena and Michaelmas daisies. The trees will be starting to turn autumnal, so there should be lots of leaves to kick up a swirl and a range of colours coming to the glade.

The trust’s volunteers will be on hand to provide hot and cold drinks as well as bacon, cheese or hummus rolls and homemade cakes.

Adult entry is £6 for tickets purchased in advance - via www.eastonlodge.co.uk or Trybooking.com - and entry is free for under-16s. The entrance fee on the gate on the day is £7 for adults, with free entry for children.

The gardens will open at 11am and close at 5pm. Dogs are welcome, but must be kept on leads.