I am delighted to announce John Smith and the Perryhill Orchards have been awarded the Wealden Hero Award this week.
Established as a commercial apple orchard in 1966, the farm is ideally situated on the northern gateway to the Ashdown Forest, near Hartfield. Perryhill Orchards has expanded from a small self-service farm shop to now hosting a variety of attractions for everyone to enjoy. You can enjoy browsing in the farm shop and craft centre, visit to the Perryhill Butcher, sample apple juices and ciders, or relax over a pot of tea in the friendly atmosphere of the Orchard Tea Room.
At the outset of Covid-19, John Smith, the proprietor, has decided to make sure he was supporting vulnerable people in the community and those unable to travel to buy food. He and his team have kept the shop stocked throughout the pandemic, with a wide range of products such as locally produced jams and chutneys, vegetables, fruit, bread, and cheese from High Weald Dairy. They also delivered food packages directly to those in need.
The Farm Shop offers a wide selection of fresh local meat and produce, as well as other essentials. An online shop has been set up and you can place your orders via their website www.perryhillorchards.co.uk.
The Farm Shop and Orchard Tea Room remain open seven days a week, from 9.30am to 5pm. The original farmhouse has been converted into a unique tearoom, with a cosy feel and a friendly atmosphere. You can relax with a freshly brewed cup of tea or coffee whilst sampling some home-made cakes, or pop in for a lunch or all-day breakfast. The butchery sells a wide range of fresh meat, game and pies, and specialises in a wide variety of sausages which are made on site.
We are incredibly lucky to have so many wonderful farm shops in Wealden, supplying local produce to local communities. Perryhill Farm Shop is a fantastic local business, specialising in anything that can be grown or made on site. John and his team have done a tremendous job in supporting vulnerable customers by remaining open throughout the pandemic and offering home deliveries. I highly recommend visiting the Shop and Tea Room to enjoy great outdoors, or ordering your locally produced groceries online.
The Wealden Hero Awards are kindly supported by Uckfield FM, Kent and Sussex Courier, Sussex Express and Hailsham FM.
