Pumpkins are always in high demand as the Autumn season rolls in as people are keen to gut them and carve them into spectacular lanterns.
The UK grows around 10 million pumpkins each year just in time for Halloween - which is a lot to send to landfill when people are done with them.
But pumpkins aren't intended to be just for carving as they are an edible vegetable and can be used to make some tasty meals.
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Here is a list of other things you can do with your pumpkins.
Composting
Rather than letting your carved creation head to landfill, you can encourage your plants to grow by composting the veg.
If you break your pumpkins up then they will break down quicker.
This is much better for the environment than just binning it as it helps to prevent them from rotting and expelling methane gasses.
You could even use the compost from them to encourage growth in next years pumpkins.
Feed the wildlife
If you leave broken up chunks of pumpkin in your garden then you could help to feed any local wildlife.
They make the perfect snack for small animals such as squirrels and rabbits.
However, they can give hedgehogs an upset stomach so maybe bear this in mind if you have any by where you live.
Birds can also enjoy the seeds from your pumpkins so when you're done carving, maybe put the pumpkin guts outside rather than in the bin.
Make food
Pumpkins can be a really tasty and nutritious food and can be blended into all kinds of recipes.
From soups to pies a pumpkin will help to make all kinds of hearty meals.
You can also incorporate the pumpkin taste into bread, cakes and even drinks such as a Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Donate them
You can donate your pre-loved pumpkins to local zoos or farms.
The wildlife in these places would love to eat the pumpkins as a tasty treat.
Sometimes the farm where you purchased them will take them back off you at the end of the season so it may be worth asking them when making the initial purchase.
Save the seeds
The seeds are probably the all round most useful part of the pumpkin.
With the seeds you can feed birds, feed yourself or use them in crafts.
If you paint the seeds different bright colours, they can be used as counters for little hands.
And of course, you can keep the tradition going in future years by planting the seeds to create more pumpkins.
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