Standen Fruit Farm

Community Orchard Association 

maintaining one of england’s historic traditional orchards

Apple Day 2024

It's almost harvest time and our Apple Day is back!

Join us during the afternoon of Sunday 22 September 2024 for the Standen Orchard Apple Day. 

Bring all the family and enjoy a picnic at the invitation of plot owners of this important 50-acre heritage orchard, or sample tasty food from local producers. There'll be competitions for the children, locally-made goods to buy, cider to taste, plus the chance to pick a range of apples from a wide range of varieties that grow in the Orchard. 

Admission is free, and there's plenty of parking that's also free! If you'd like to make a donation to the upkeep of this historic Kentish Orchard, or join the Association that manages the Orchard, we'd be very grateful!

The afternoon runs from 1.30pm to 4.30pm. See you there!

Supported by Sussex Lund

The Standen Fruit Farm Community Orchard Association has been generously supported by Sussex Lund, part of the Lund charitable fund, administered by the High Weald AONB Unit.

Sussex Lund was formed in 2016 to support small-scale, practical projects that improve the ecology and landscape of the High Weald in Sussex. An exceptional medieval landscape, with a wealth of wildlife and historic features, the High Weald is recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The Association and its Members are most grateful to Sussex Lund for its support over the past few years that helps us maintain this historic orchard and improve the diversity and ecology of this unspoilt part of the Kent countryside.

Our story

Standen Street Orchard is situated in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – one of 50 AONBs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It is an idyllic setting in the heart of the Kent countryside, with more than 50 acres of apple and cherry fields.

The orchard was “land plotted” in the 1970s and plots were bought by people across the UK as a potential investment. Today, the volunteers of the Standen Fruit Farm Community Orchard Association manage much of the orchard on behalf of the land owners with over 300 plots. 

With your help, we are preserving a piece of Britain’s heritage

The Association mows, prunes, maintains hedges, fences and ditches, ensuring that the orchard is vibrant and accessible to plot holders and walkers on the public footpaths throughout the year.

We would welcome your support either as an Associate Member or as a donor. 

Read our latest Members’ briefing, The Orchard, online here.

our latest video update

Our mission and approach

The aim of the Association is to maintain the orchard, protect biodiversity, and to connect people with their local environment and its history. The Tithe map from 1777 and Epoch map 1843-93 show that the land areas have retained a very similar shape since then.

Acres

The orchard covers around 50 acres in the heart of the Kent countryside

Volunteers

The Association is run by volunteers who have an interest in preserving this historic orchard

Trees

There are many different types of apple and cherry trees across the orchard

Years

The Association has been in existence for over 40 years, maintaining the orchard for the benefit of owners and the wider public

Plot owners

The Association works on behalf of well in excess of 70 individual plot owners