01273 857445
Our Story
Rushfields began in 1984 when brother and sister Colin and Kathryn Langridge established a small plant nursery on a greenfield site near Poynings in Sussex. Back then, the business centred on growing bedding plants and vegetables in polytunnels, and selling our produce from a little shed on the side of the road.
Colin and Kathryn were soon joined as directors by Pam, Colin's wife, and Adrian, Kathryn’s husband. As time went on, word got around, and the demand for our plants and for us to stock other products grew quickly.
During the 1990s, we built several glasshouses to nurture our growing array of plants, but it wasn’t long before we replaced these with a spacious new retail glasshouse. Opened in 1999, this became home to our shop and our popular Rushfields Café. We added our award winning Farm Shop in 2010 and now, 40 years later, we are still growing!
How we do things
We hold true to our aim of supporting local businesses, farmers and artisanal producers while providing fabulous quality, variety, traceability, affordability and service to our customers, every day of the year.
We are local people supporting local people. We believe in carving a place for ourselves in the heart of the South Downs community, so helping us to reduce food miles, support the Sussex economy, and source and provide the best quality local goods and fresh produce.
Get to know the directors!
Colin Langridge
Colin has been working in horticulture since the age of 16, having left school with an O Level in technical drawing and metalwork, and an ungraded in RE!
Colin started his career at Brighton Parks and Gardens and undertook his qualification in horticulture at Brinsbury College.
Colin was only 25 years old when he founded Rushfields, having previously been a Head Gardener - quite an impressive feat!
Colin now works mainly in the Farm Shop where he can show his love of food and excellence in pie making!
Kathryn Hillman
Kathryn has been working in horticulture since the age of 16, having also left school with an ungraded in RE, but O Levels in needlework and geography.
She started her career on the garden team at Worthing Council, when she also undertook her qualification in horticulture at Brinsbury College.
Kathryn was 22 years old when she founded Rushfields, which was pretty unheard of as a very young female business owner in the 1980s!
Kathryn is still working in our plant centre, overseeing the retail and growing teams, and answering every question that she can from our loyal customers!
Pam Langridge
Pam officially joined the business in March 1992 having been in the background for the years previously. She isn't sure if she has any O Levels but has qualifications in shorthand and typing from Legal & General, where she was a training administrator.
Pam has expertly run the back office of Rushfields for many years, before moving into the Farm Shop when it opened in 2010. She now works with the farm shop manager to oversee the daily running of the farm shop.
Adrian Hillman
Adrian joined the business in 1986 having grown up in nearby Henfield. Adrian is very proud to have an O Level in Spanish which he achieved after his 40th birthday!
Adrian started his work in the plant centre alongside Kathryn, but later moved to run the cafe after we took the running back in house.
Adrian now works in the cafe alongside the manager and head chef and even does a few days a week as sous chef!
Address
Henfield Road, Poynings, West Sussex, BN45 7AY
Phone
01273 857445
Opening Hours
Garden Centre & Farm Shop
Monday to Sunday 9am-5.30pm
Cafe
Monday to Sunday 9am-4.30pm