Residents react with sadness to West Sussex 'pick your own' farm closure – 'so many amazing family memories made here'
News the Roundstone ‘Pick Your Own’ Farm will not reopen this year has been met with sadness.
In a story we posted to Facebook this morning, hundreds of people left comments sharing their memories of the popular ‘pick your own’ destination in Littlehampton Road, Angmering.
The owners announced this weekend that due to retirement they would not be opening as usual for the summer season. They said the farm was now closed for good and thanked people for their custom over the last 50 years.
Reacting to the news on Facebook, Katie Still said: “It’s always been such a much loved family thing to do, and a real positive educational experience too - providing children with the opportunity to discover how foods are grown and try new things. I really wish there was an opportunity for the community to take this on and protect it.”
Lórien Mottau added: “I felt really emotional hearing this last week, so many amazing family memories made here, such a wholesome and inexpensive thing to do with the family, going to pick fruit and vegetables and creating meals and desserts around what we bought. This will be a massive loss to me and to the area.”
It comes the week after next-door Roundstone Farm Shop and Garden Centre announced it had moved to Hillview Business Park just down the road on Littlehampton Road.
It has led to many people speculating the land may be sold to developers to create housing.
Ty Poulter said: “Get ready for more houses then I suppose!”
Jim Sharp added: “More houses, soon the A259 from Sainsbury’s to Northbrook roundabout will be like the M25, slow moving traffic.”
And Ashley Waite agreed: “More houses coming then.”
Sean Daniel Snead also said: “Sad going to miss going to the pick your own actually nice to go pick some nice fruit and vegetables. Another treasure likely to go for some soulless housing estates.”
Sandra Colwell also shared her sadness on Facebook: “So sad lots of happy memories picking out fruit and veg from June onwards.”
As did Elaine Standen: “Such sad news my children and now my grandchildren have grown up going there and enjoying being out in the fields picking their own fruit and vegetables they will be upset too.”
Alice Naylor said: “Fond memories from working there. It was a good place.”
And Sarah Eyles wished it could be taken on by new owners: “Could they not get someone to run it for them instead. Loved going there, was looking forward to going to pick this year fresh strawberries and corn. Will miss this place.”