Stanhill Farm News!
It has been a very challenging time for farmers these past couple of months with the heatwave and drought that we have experienced. We saw the driest July in England since 1935, coupled with record breaking temperatures, both of which are never a good combination for farming. Farmer Toby has been working flat out to keep all the crops alive and we were so grateful to finally get some much longed for rain, we just need lots more now to make a big difference to the ground and the crops!
Our Pick Your Own has been open since June and has been extremely busy. We now have the following produce available for picking: Dwarf French beans, Runner beans, courgettes, courgette flowers, marrows, mini cucumbers, sweetcorn, strawberries (late crop) and sunflowers (late crop). Please click here for further information.
Our Maize Maze opened in late July and has been very popular! If you are yet to give it a go it will be open through until Saturday 10th September, so there is still time! This year's theme is the Queen's 'Jubeelee'! Buzz on over to Stanhill Farm this summer and help Queen Bee retrieve the missing jewels from her crown! HRH (Her Royal Honeyness) Betty the bee, thinks she is the queen and has taken to wearing a crown around the farm!
The crown jewels have all gone missing in the maze, so Queen Bee needs your help to find them all and get them back to their rightful place...on her head! Search the maze to retrieve all the jewels and discover what is Queen Bee's favourite summer treat! Price includes a gamecard and map. Please click here for further information.
Our on-site café, Berries & Beans, will be closing for a holiday so please note the following changes for the remainder of the summer season:
August
• Sunday 28th: Usual menu
• Monday 29th: Drinks/ice creams only
• Tuesday 30th: Closed
• Wednesday 31st: Closed
September - Open Weekends Only
• Sat 3rd & Sun 4th: Drinks/ice creams only
• Sat 10th & Sun 11th: Usual menu
• Sat 17th & Sun 18th: Usual menu
• Sat 24th & Sun 25th: Usual menu
Berries & Beans will then be back open again towards the end of October for the pumpkin season! Dates to be confirmed. Please give them a follow on Facebook or Instagram for full information, including opening times!
We have started to receive enquiries regarding when our Pumpkin Patch booking system will be open. We don’t have a date just yet, but it will be some time around the middle of September. This year we will be introducing a pre-purchase/booking fee which will be deducted from the total price of the pumpkin purchase.
We have taken the decision to implement this fee because unfortunately over the past two years many customers have abused our free booking system and have booked numerous time slots and/or have not turned up to their booked time slots. This has resulted in other customers missing out and a great deal of pumpkins being wasted. Please keep an eye on the Pumpkin Patch page of our website or our Facebook, Instagram or Twitter pages for updates and information.
We are pleased to advise that our samosas are back in stock in every variety! Traditional Indian samosas, frozen and available in a choice of chicken, lamb, or vegetarian. Priced at £1.75 each or three for £4.50.
We are currently harvesting Dwarf French beans, Runner beans, courgettes, marrows, mini cucumbers, sweetcorn, bunched carrots (orange) and bunched carrots (purple). We are sourcing Victoria plums, Magic Star apples, greengages and raspberries from Roughway Farm, Tonbridge, and strawberries from Hugh Lowe Farm, Maidstone. Fresh and delicious Kent farm produce!
All of the above are available to buy from both our Farm Shop and Click & Collect Service. Subject to availability.