Mudpie Fridays >> East Sussex >> Best Pick Your Own Farms in East and West Sussex

Best Pick Your Own Farms in East and West Sussex

Pick your own in Sussex. It’s that time of year again when we head out looking to PYO fruit and fresh produce at the local farms. We are so lucky to have lots of great fruit and veg PYO Sussex farms close by on the Sussex Downs and further afield. We of course like to pick all sorts of varieties and specifically look for things that we are now growing in our back garden. It is a wonderful way to pass the times in the Summer holidays and a relatively cheap day out. I have split this post into pick your own in West Sussex and pick your own in East Sussex. Since it is such a big county!

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Best Pick Your Own Farms in East and West Sussex

This post covers pick your own farms. If you have anymore PYO East Sussex or PYO West Sussex farms that you are aware of and are not covered here then please do let me know in the comments below.

Pick Your Own West Sussex

Here are some of the best pick your own in West Sussex

Spring Gardens Nursery

Location: Spring Gardens Nursery, Washington, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 3BS
Opening hours: PYO is opening at the beginning of June. Check out the website for more information.
Entrance costs: No cost, pay for what you pick and cards are accepted. No need to book
Fruit and vegetables available: Strawberries, cherries, raspberries, black currants, red currants, plums, tayberries, loganberries, boysenberries, blackberries as well as asparagus, sweet corn, broad beans, runner beans, beetroot, and potatoes.
Facilities: Farm shop and a little cafe. They also host special events and you can order the essentials box which includes seasonal fruit and veg, milk, free range eggs and artisan bread all from local producers.
Important things to note: When it comes to looking for PYO West Sussex, Spring Gardens Nursery is a great place to consider. You can visit all year round, but the PYO is usually from about June time through to October. My friend introduced me to this very local to us and her gem. Having lived in the area for 14 years I had no idea it was there. There is a well-stocked farm shop as well as a lovely cafe where you can enjoy some local produce. The food is really delicious and the setting is beautiful a perfect way to spend the afternoon. Although you may head there for the strawberry season and quality fruit it really is one to consider all year round.
For more information check out the Spring Garden Nursery.

Roundstone Farm

Location: Roundstone Farm, Littlehampton Road, Angmering, Worthing, West Sussex, BN12 6PW
Opening hours: 25th May. Opening from 9 am to 5 pm every day of the week. Although not open when it is raining so check the forecast.
Entrance costs: No cost, pay for what you pick and cards are accepted. No need to book.
Fruit and vegetables available: Strawberries, Raspberries, Gooseberries, Blackcurrants, Redcurrants, Tayberries, Loganberries, Blackberries, Rhubarb, Plums, Beetroot, Sugar Snap Peas, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Butternut Squash, Cabbages, Carrots, Courgettes, French Beans, Mange Tout Peas, Marrows, Onions, Pak Choi, Peas, Pumpkins, and more.
Facilities: Tractor-Train service for hard-to-reach areas which is a lot of fun for the kids and saves little legs. The kiosk also sells ice cream and cold drinks.
Important things to note: If you were looking for one of the larger farms when it comes to a pick your own in Sussex then this is the place to visit. This was the first PYO in West Sussex that I visited with Charlie. Watching him try to pull onions was hilarious and something I still remember fondly. Of course, the tractor rides were a big hit for him and a great way to move around the farm.
The best thing is that they offer a huge variety of fruits and vegetables. So there is usually something in season and you are normally spoiled for choice. Crops are available throughout the summer and autumn months.
For more information check out the farm’s website and read more about our pick your own West Sussex adventure – Fruit Picking at Roundstone Farm

Dell Quay PYO

Location: Crouchers Farm, Birdham Rd, Chichester PO20 7EQ
Opening hours: Opening in early June, closed Mondays. Open 9.30 am to 5.30 pm Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm on Sundays.
Entrance costs: No cost, pay for what you pick. No need to book in advance both cash and cards are accepted.
Fruit and vegetables available: Strawberries and Raspberries
Facilities: Cafe. All weather pick your own.
Important things to note: Dell Quay Pick Your Own in West Sussex is an all-weather fruit farm making it perfect even if the British weather isn’t on your side. Which lets face it can happen a lot so the fact it is under cover stands it apart from many PYO farms in Sussex.
The coastal location is the perfect place for a raspberry and strawberry picking farm. Both are available to pick from June onwards. There is also an onsite cafe where you can enjoy local produce and a warm drink. Or a picnic area if you decide to bring your own. Keep an eye on their Instagram page for updates on sunflowers the wide variety of pumpkins also avaliable later in the year.
For more information check out the Dell Quay website.

New House Farm Shop and PYO

Location: Old Crawley Road, Faygate, Horsham, RH12 4RU
Opening hours: PYO is available in June, open seven days a week from 10 am to 5 pm.
Entrance costs: No costs pay for what you pick, no booking is required.
Fruit and vegetables available: Strawberries and raspberries. You can also pick sunflowers.
Facilities: Tea room and farm shop
Important things to note: This is a great facility if you want to pick your own berries but also have access to some fantastic local produce. Another PYO strawberries farm which is very close to where we live and one we visit frequently. I have also been known to mislay my phone in this particular patch of strawberries. One of the things I really like about this family-owned farm is that there is a lovely area to relax in after picking your own strawberries.
The farm shop is well stocked with local baked goods, meat, and vegetables as well as fruit. There is a delightful tea room where you can sample local bakes and cakes and enjoy the surroundings. A lovely place to pick your own in West Sussex that isn’t overwhelming or too large in scale. It is popular so I would suggest arriving early where possible as the large car park can get pretty full.
For more information check out the New House Farm Shop.

Paternosters Farm

Location: Slough Green Lane, Warninglid, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 5SL
Opening hours: Unlike the other pick your own farms in West Sussex this one opens late August into September. Normally open Thursday through to Sunday but check the website nearer the time.
Entrance costs: No costs pay for what you pick.
Fruit and vegetables available: Apples and plums.
Facilities: Cash-only location. Just PYO.
Important things to note: This is a small farm that specialises in apple trees and plums so is one for the Autumn months in your diary. You can enjoy the orchards and an array of different varieties of apples available. A great place to go on a sunny day where you can enjoy the surroundings. A small-scale PYO so perfect for little legs. They do supply plastic bags for the fruit.
For more information check out the Paternosters website.

Pick Your Own East Sussex

Here are the best pick your own in East Sussex

Maynards Farm

Location: Maynards Farm, Windmill Hill, Cross Lane, Ticehurst, TN5 7HQ
Opening hours: Opening in the Summer is due to be at the end of June or the beginning of July. Check out the website for more information.
Entrance costs: No costs, pay for what you pick at this pick your own in East Sussex
Fruit and vegetables available: Apples, apricots, cherries, plums, damsons, strawberries, blackcurrants, blackberries, raspberries, loganberries, tayberries, rhubarb, cobnuts, and Tummelberries.
Facilities: Good parking and picnic spots.
Important things to note: This is a great family-run farm and perfect when looking for PYO in East Sussex. There is a variety of fruit plants and trees that you can pick your own. With plenty to choose from you can spend a lot of time here. It is limited on facilities but there are some amazing picnic spots and the views are incredible across Bewl Water. If you would prefer something more substantial then the pick your own fruit farm is close to a number classic country pubs. A great country pub, The Bull, borders the farm at Three Leg Cross. Just down the road is Ticehurst, with a couple of other classic country pubs – The Bell and The Cherry Tree Inn.
A lovely spot to consider on a warm day the farm is slightly elevated and so out of the frosty areas as the weather changes. Close to Batemans, Scotney Castle, Bedgebury Pinetum and Pashley Manor Gardens
For more information check out the Maynards Farm.

Sharnfold Farm

Location: Sharnfold Farm, Hailsham Road, Stone Cross, Eastbourne, BN24 5BU
Opening hours: The PYO in East Sussexwill be open in the summer. The farm is open all year round, daily 9 am to 5 pm.
Entrance costs: No costs pay for what you pick. Trail and other facilities have an entrance cost of £7.20 with a booking fee and under 2s are free. You can also pay for an annual membership. Book tickets online in advance.
Fruit and vegetables available: Pumpkins, Strawberries, Marrow, and more
Facilities: Farm trail including farm animals, play area, mini golf, mini racer ride ons and a cafe. They also run various events throughout the year including children’s characters such as Paw Patrol and Bluey. And there will be a maize maze too!
Important things to note: This is one of the best PYO in Sussex as it has so much more to offer than just the Picking of fruit and vegetables. There are play areas and farm trails, a butcher on-site as well as a farm shop and a lovely cafe serving local produce. A real hidden gem for families and perfect to frequent all year round, not just in the summer when the pick your own seasons starts. There are animals on the farm trail to look out for and lots of things you can do while you are there. This is a great family day out that everyone will love.
For more information check out the Sharnfold Farm.

Oast Farm

Location: Oast Farm, Lephams Bridge, Buxted, East Sussex, TN22 4AU
Opening hours: The Farm shop is open Monday to Saturday 9 am to 5 pm and the cafe 10 am to 4 pm. Both are closed on a Sunday.
Entrance costs: No costs, pay for what you pick.
Fruit and vegetables available: blackberries, red currants, black currants, gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, and much more.
Facilities: Cafe and farm shop
Important things to note: Since covid, the farm has been focusing on its farm shop where there are lots of fresh fruit and vegetables their own eggs and honey and lots of seating for the cafe serving local produce. The food looks delicious on their Facebook page. I have included this one as one of the smaller fruit farms in East Sussex in the hope that they start to do pick your own again. Phone numbers are on the website below and so it is work calling ahead if you are visiting in strawberry picking season to see if they have fruit picking available. If anyone has any updates please leave details in the comments below and I will update this post.
For more information check out the Oast Farm website

Tibbs Farm

Location: Tibbs Farm, Udimore, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 6AR
Opening hours: This pick your own in East Sussex opens in the Summer, open Tuesday to Sunday 9 am to 5 pm. Closed Mondays
Entrance costs: No costs, pay for what you pick.
Fruit and vegetables available: Cherries, red currants, black currants, loganberries, raspberries, strawberries, tayberries and gooseberries,
Facilities: Farm shop, cafe, hop-picking tours, maze, pumpkin picking and glamping are also all available at the site. In the winter they also do pick your own Christmas Trees.
Important things to note: Tibbs Farm began in 1956 and is a family farm located in the stunning Tillingham Valley on the outskirts of Rye. You can pick a range of fruits, including apricots, strawberries, raspberries, tayberries blackcurrants, plums, blackberries, and even six varieties of gooseberries. There are even more obscure fruits such as tummelberries and boysenberries. A great option to take the family and try something new. There is also a cafe located at the farm serving light dishes and snacks that use fresh seasonal produce that mostly will have been sourced locally. Last of all, there is a farm shop where you can pick up freshly picked fruit if you do not wish to pick the fruit yourself.
For more information check out the Tibbs Farm.

Wakehams Farm

Location: Pett Level Road, Hastings TN35 4ED
Opening hours: Summer months for pick your own in East Sussex, I would call ahead for more details as the information on the website and facebook page are limited
Entrance costs: No costs, pay for what you pick.
Fruit and vegetables available: Runner beans, strawberries, red currants, broad beans and more pyo fruits.
Facilities: Farm shop and garden center
Important things to note: This is a great one to visit if you want something that is small-scale and easy to navigate. This is a farm shop and garden centre that is open throughout the year but you can also head there in the summer months to pick your own fruit and vegetables. There is a lot of local and seasonal produce in the farm shop as well.
For more information check out this Wakehams Farm.