Strawberry picking season is here
Strawberry picking season has arrived, and while London isn’t ideal for foraging, there are plenty of ‘pick your own’ farms just a brief trip from the capital.
Crockford Bridge Farm in Surrey hosts pick-your-own events throughout the year, with strawberries available between June and August. Situated near Addlestone, the farm lies just over an hour from London. The picturesque farm isn’t just a great place to grab some fresh fruit, it’s also the perfect place to get some peace away from the city in a stunning rural setting.
It’s crucial to note that you must book ahead before travelling to the farm. Andy Gould, operations manager at Crockford Bridge Farm, previously advised: “The single most important thing for us to communicate is the importance of booking for pick your own. Each day, there’s a finite amount of fruit available to pick and the number of farm passes available correlates directly to how much fruit is available. On busy days (or at times when fruit is lacking) only those with a booking can be permitted entry.”
Strawberries are obviously the ultimate summer snack, but they’re not the only produce on offer. Crockford Bridge Farm also grows a vibrant selection of other fruits and vegetables, including rhubarb, raspberries, blackberries, carrots, and beetroot, according to SurreyLive – although most won’t be ready for picking just yet.
The optimal period for strawberry picking at the farm is from early June onwards, when the harvest is most abundant. The farm’s website states: “In order to ensure a continuous supply of strawberries over the summer months we grow a number of different varieties of strawberries in different fields across the farm. On arrival, please check with our staff which field to pick from as this is likely to have changed since your last visit. Patches ready to pick are marked with a strawberry sign.”
The website further notes: “Historically strawberries were unavailable after the main crop finished towards the end of June. Luckily over the last few decades, advances in plant breeding and selection mean we can now grow strawberries well into autumn, although the best fruit is always during the main crop.”
It adds: “Our late variety ‘everbearers’ continue to produce fruit until the first frosts of autumn but this is a slower fruiting variety. It is always worth calling ahead to check availability in late summer particularly after extreme weather.”
Slots can be reserved via the Crockford Bridge Farm website.
How to get there
Travelling from London to Crockford Bridge Farm is straightforward – board a South Western Railway train from Waterloo heading to West Byfleet station, then catch the 456 bus to Westerham Close. Alternatively, you can board the South Western Railway service to Weybridge, where you can alight and change onto a service heading to Addlestone. From there, the farm is a 15 minute walk.
Address: Crockford Bridge Farm, Addlestone, KT15 2BU
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