Autumn cheer in Wigan with smashing pumpkins

Kerry Docherty, who owns Wild Flowers in Standish, is selling a range pumpkins in all different sizes and colours.

There’s the traditional orange coloured ones but then she’s also got them in green, white, gold and purple.

Every year, Kerry, 45, sells pumpkins but this time round, she’s tried something different.

Kerry, who has run the shop for more than 12 years, said: “I’ve been selling pumpkins over the last couple of years but everyone else does them and people are creating their own designs.

“So I thought I would do something different and look for some inspiration.

“So I’ve got some succulent plants and some green heritage ones and other different varieties which have been spray painted.”

And Kerry said that people have been buying them mainly for decorations with people currently spending more time in the house due to the coronavirus restrictions.

She said: “We did get a special order for a wedding but we had one person who wanted a green pumpkin for the island in her kitchen and white one for outside the house.

“At the moment because more people are probably staying at home, they want to make the house a bit nicer and are doing some decorations, so they can be surrounded by nice things and feel happier.”

As well as running the shop with the help of four part-time staff, she runs her own workshops in the upstairs part.

Last weekend she made her own autumn wreath and ran a competition on social media where people had to choose one individual they would give it to.

More than 100 entries were made and a winner has been chosen.

She added: “I’ve also been selling some nice wild flowers and the best sellers have been hydrangeas, berries and chrysanthemums.

“I just want to spread some autumnal cheer in these hard times.”