| About Little Sharsted Farm
The Neaves family, now in their third generation, have been growing fruit since 1941, when Bryan’s
father Archie brought Little Sharsted Farm. Over the years the farm has thrived and expanded and
Bryan has introduced new growing systems and planted modern varieties of top and stone fruit.
Today we grow mainly apples (100ha), pears (34ha), cherries (28ha) and plums (7ha).
During the season we can offer students a working holiday on the farm. This gives the student
an opportunity to make new friends and experience life on the farm. Students wishing to apply
for work on the farm should contact us via our email.
Little Sharsted Farm is situated near the lovely village of Newnham, nestling in the ‘Kent Downs
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’. The nearest pub and restaurant are within a short, picturesque
walk of the farm. By train, central London can be reached in an hour, and the beautiful city of
Canterbury in 15 minutes – with its wealth of shops, famous Cathedral, historic buildings,
restaurants, bars and nightclubs
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| Fruit Throughout the Seasons
Our new pack house runs for 10 months of the year, grading all of our own fruit for the major
retailers and also supplying many fresh produce markets around the country. This facility has
enabled us to pack for other local growers, giving them the opportunity to supply additional outlets.
We have the capacity to store 2200 tonnes of fruit in modern controlled-atmosphere cold stores.
Cherry picking season starts in June taking us through to mid-August. Some of the cherries are
grown in a traditional way whilst others are grown intensively under modern tunnelled structures.
A short plum season follows which takes us into the busiest months of September and October
when the pears and apples are harvested. With the addition of the late season Braeburn apple,
picking can now last until mid-November
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