There are many orchards and sustainable farms near Brighton where locals and travellers flock during the spring and summer months to fill up their baskets with delicious fruit. Thankfully, East Sussex is a treasure trove for family-friendly farms opening their fields to hungry people looking for fruit picking.
There’s no better way to bask in the summer sun than by enjoying a wholesome day out fruit picking with family and friends. Here are our picks of some of the best.
Roundstone “Pick Your Own” Farm
Located near Angmering, close to Worthing, Roundstone Farm is a picturesque smallholding nestled against the sweeping expanse of the Sussex Downs, providing a stunning backdrop for any fun-filled fruit-picking day out.
The farm offers a wide assortment of fruits to pick in its fields, from cherries to strawberries, and gooseberries, to redcurrants, there’s no shortage of fruit available ripe for plucking.
The farm’s friendly staff are always on hand to assist with enquiries to make your day out as enjoyable as possible, whilst also operating a tractor-train service to ferry visitors to their desired destinations on the farm.
Address: Littlehampton Rd, Angmering, Worthing, BN12 6PW
Website: roundstonefarm.co.uk
Maynard’s Fruit Farm
Situated in Wadhurst, Maynard’s Fruit Farm is a haven for hungry fruit pickers looking to escape the city limits of Brighton.
Maynard’s is a delightful and welcoming farm and boasts a stunning collection of fruits to pick with friends and family. Its fields are ripe with strawberries, apples, plums, pears, and much much more.
The farm carefully cultivates its soil to ensure that all its fruits are ripe and ready to go when the summer arrives. The staff are friendly and welcoming and are always on hand to answer any questions relating to the fruit on offer here.
The farm also runs seasonal events including cider pressing, so keep an eye out on their website for more information on what’s going on at the farm.
Address: Windmill Hill/Cross Lane, Wadhurst, TN5 7HQ
Website: maynardsfruit.co.uk
Coopers Farm
Cooper’s Farm, located in the idyllic setting of Hadlow Down in East Sussex, enjoys all the footfall of travellers looking to explore the surrounding High Weald area of Natural Beauty.
Cooper’s is a working, traditional ‘Wealden’ farm and is a community-led project. All the produce from the farm is sold directly on-site or at local food markets, pubs, restaurants, and events.
The farm is also a haven for fruit picking and is friendly to picnickers who can enjoy the spoils of their labour by dining out on their freshly picked fruit on the land.
Address: Five Chimney’s Lane, Hadlow Down, Uckfield, TN22 4DX
Website: coopersfarm.com
Stonepitts Farm
Situated in Sevenoaks, on the Sussex/Kent border, Stonepitts Farm is a beloved destination for fruit pickers across the county.
The farm offers seasonal pick-your-own fruits, from strawberries and apples to plums and raspberries.
The traditional period for strawberry picking on the farm runs from June until August, but the farm operates strictly on a weather-dependent schedule, so it’s worth checking the opening times before heading out.
The farm itself has been growing soft fruit ripe for picking for over sixty years and is a beautiful destination to bring the family for an unforgettable day out in the sun.
Address: Stonepitts Farm, Seal Chart, Sevenoaks, TN15 0ER
Website: stonepitts.com
Middle Farm
For Brighton locals, Middle Farm is only a short drive or train ride away in nearby Firle, Lewes. The farm is a fully functional smallholding with fruit picking being just one of its many draws.
The farm’s orchards are ripe with apples ready to pluck from the tree, while its fields are lined with strawberries and raspberries during the late summer season.
The farm doesn’t shut down to the public outside of picking season and is a great place to bring the family during lambing season in particular, where children can enjoy watching baby lambs being born.
Visitors to the farm can also sample the freshly pressed cider that is made on-site, so there’s no shortage of things to do and places to explore on this charming farm.
Address: Firle, West Firle, Lewes, BN8 6LJ
Website: middlefarm.com
Sharnfold Farm
Fruit picking is a seasonal affair and the beauty of it means that there’s only so much fruit to go around each year.
Sharnfold Farm is one of the most popular places in East Sussex to take the family fruit picking and during the peak summer season, its fields are filled with rows upon rows of strawberries ripe for the picking.
However, due to its popularity amongst fruit enthusiasts, when the last strawberry is picked then that’s it for the season, so be sure to get to the farm in the early summer months just as the strawberries are ripening.
If you’ve missed out on the opportunity to pick strawberries then the farm runs a plethora of family-friendly events for children of all ages, so check out their website for more information on what’s going on.
Address: Hailsham Rd, Stone Cross, Pevensey, BN24 5BU
Website: sharnfoldfarm.co.uk
Tibbs Farm
Situated near Rye in East Sussex, and offering beautiful, picturesque views of the sprawling countryside of Tillingham Valley, Tibbs Farm is an idyllic spot to bring the family fruit picking on a balmy summer day.
The farm isn’t just a perfect place for foraging as it also runs a popular café with a strong farm-to-fork ethos, serving the best in locally grown and nurtured produce.
Their pick-you-own fruit fields have been running for over 40 years and have shown no signs of slowing down production. The farm is a family-friendly place and its staff are always on hand to advise on what to pick and where to pick it.
The fields designed for their pick-your-own soft fruit are monumental in size and the farm’s ranges are some of the biggest in the country, so there’s no shortage of fruit to pick at Tibbs.
Address: Udimore, Rye, TN31 6AR
Website: tibbsfarm.com
