Unusually it was sunny last Sunday so it was decided to head to Salts Farm for a coffee en route to Camber for a windy and bracing walk along the sea wall. I hadn’t been to Salts Farm for some time but I was amazed by what I saw and what I’d been missing. Free parking is a bonus these days and there is plenty of room whether or not you are visiting the Farm shop and café, Rye Garden Centre or Beryl’s Cafe, all of which were open and buzzing with local visitors and passers by, down to the coast for the day.
Adjacent to the main carpark is a row of recently installed Instavolt electric vehicle charging points and although not yet ready for use, when they are, no doubt they will prove very popular.
The farm shop was well stocked with a huge variety of fresh local produce including meat, vegetables, chutneys, beers, cider and so much more and in the café teas and coffees, freshly prepared rolls, scones and cakes and after a delicious flat white coffee it was time to look around Rye Garden Centre, just next door.
An Aladdin’s Cave for all things horticultural: tools and equipment for every eventuality, seeds, plants, flowers and herbs for every occasion, pots, planters, ornaments and surprises around each corner including a wonderful selection of David Austin roses. It was a hive of industry, with such a huge and varied range of stock and with plenty of helpful staff on hand to make life easier.
Next stop was to Jurys Gap but along the way there was a photo opportunity to capture the stunning golden yellow rape fields with Rye townscape on the horizon behind.
At Jurys Gap, unusually the car park was hardly 25% full but along the sea wall there were plenty of people enjoying a walk with the sun on the sea and a strong wind to put colour in your cheeks. The tide was high and the crashing waves producing foam “rain” as we headed to the compound at the far end of Broomhill Sands where the huge boulders and diggers are being stored for use by the Environment Agency.
Time now to head home but after a day of discovery it makes me realise how lucky we are to live in this area and I hope the photos below help to capture some of the moments.
If you haven’t visited Salts Farm or Rye Garden Centre recently you are missing out, it’s well worth making the effort, even if you just want a drink or a bite to eat but if gardening is your passion or you know someone who might enjoy a trip there, see what’s on offer by going onto www.saltsfarmshop.co.uk or www.ryegardencentre.co.uk
Image Credits: Nick Forman .
Nick, you captured the essence of Salts Farm. It is a gem in our community and definitely worth a visit.
The staff at the garden centre and the farm shop are always welcoming and helpful and I remember an excellent egg and bacon sarni at Beryls!
The Salts Farm shop and café, Beryl’s, the Salon, and Garden Gems are all real assets to Rye, and very popular with visitors in the busy months. The charging points will make them even more popular, I’m sure. Nice to see an article on our local traders. I agree with the commenter above me — the staff are always welcoming and ready to help!
The electric vehicle charging points would now seem to be operational as each now has a bright green light shining on it. When I say bright this is a bit of an understatement as these lights can probably be seen on the Moon! They are very noticable from where we live, probably a kilometer away up Rye Hill in Playden, and I wonder whether the residents of East Guldeford are finding them rather intrusive.