There were also chefs on hand to demonstrate various dishes that can be made using the versatile vegetable.

The Pumpkin Festival was the theme of the Kadoorie Farm's Nature Fun Day this month.

The Nature Fun Days were introduced in September last year and are held on the first Sunday of every month. They are open to the general public.

The farm hopes to increase attendance by encouraging parents to come along with their children to enjoy a fun-filled day.

There are different themes every month in addition to the regular activities held at the farm, such as discovering more about nature and plants, and making handicrafts using natural resources.

'We offer a wide range of special programmes which enable the public to explore nature while having fun,' says Idy Wong, the head of the sustainable living and agriculture department at Kadoorie.

A good example of this is how the tutors and volunteers teach children how to make artwork or bookmarks using pressed flowers, and goldfish out of pine cones.

Visitors to Kadoorie Farm also learn to appreciate animals. 'They are introduced to different kinds of insect specimens which are not harmful. They learn that many snakes, for instance, don't bite people. And if they try, the best way to get rid of them is to ward them off with a branch. It's good to understand more about wildlife. We can then live in harmony with nature.

'Our farm is just like an outdoor classroom. Participants can obviously enrich their understanding of nature, and appreciate it and have fun by touching and feeling the flora and fauna around them,' she says.

Adults are also kept busy, and are given the opportunity to learn simple organic planting skills.

Ms Wong says Kadoorie Farm has plans to introduce more diverse programmes - some with seasonal topics - to further enhance people's relationship with nature.

The regular Nature Fun Day programmes include the farmer's market, a nature tour, an art and environmental workshop, nature handicraft making, a fauna discovery table and a horticulture workshop.

Nestled below Kwun Yum Shan (Goddess of Mercy Mountain) in central New Territories, Kadoorie Farm plays an active role in promoting conservation and biodiversity in Hong Kong and South China, and promoting sustainable agriculture and creative nature education. It has conservation and education facilities set in a deep valley with streams, woodlands and terraces.

The Fauna Conservation Department at Kadoorie is where the exotic and native animals are cared for. This department also has programmes, exhibitions and displays to promote biodiversity conservation, such as the Wild Animal Rescue Centre's veterinary hospital and the Jim Ades Raptor Sanctuary. The conservation and breeding of Asian turtles is highlighted here, as is co-operation with other international wildlife organisations.

This department aims to promote the protection of wildlife and thereby help prevent animals from becoming extinct.

The farm's Education Department also gets the conservation message across - both locally and across the region - through its educational programmes. These aim to instil a sense of awe about nature in those who visit the farm.

Visitors can also go on guided tours with education interpreters to learn more about the history of Kadoorie.

There is also a Flora Education Department at Kadoorie which highlights plant conservation and houses 1,000 native species on site. This department is active in the field in Hong Kong and China and works to prevent habitat loss and to find new species.

And what would a farm be without chickens, pigs and bees? At Norman Wright Memorial Chicken Display there are several different breeds on show, including the rare Waichow chicken. If you like, you can buy fresh eggs here.

The farm's pigsty features the Da Hua Bai pigs, a Chinese breed originating from Guangdong. The Apiary has about 40 beehives. The bees here not only provide sweet honey, but also help to pollinate the gardens and orchards at Kadoorie.

For a refreshing cup of tea, head for the Tea Garden, which features 30 Camellia sinensis tea plants which were donated to the farm in 1997. They are harvested in spring and early summer, after which the leaves are dried, roasted and fermented.