visitor information
Perch Hill is Sarah's private home and garden, but we welcome visitors on Garden Open Days or for private group visits (please see below).
You can also visit the garden on one of our popular courses with Sarah – where you will be taught about floristry, growing cut flowers, cooking seasonal produce or Sarah's favourite plants, and may have the opportunity to look around the gardens at your own pace. Please see our Courses & Events page for more information.
We also have a shop at Perch Hill, which stocks a variety of gardening, floristry and lifestyle products. Sarah's East Sussex garden is not open every day, but you can visit on specified Open Days, when the shop will also be open.
Please note, in certain areas of the garden, wheelchair access is limited due to slopes and gravel paths.
the shop
The shop at Perch Hill stocks lots of exciting products – floristry, gardening, kitchen and homeware, plus vases and lifestyle products to complement our flower arranging and cookery courses and Open Days.
While we don't have the space to stock all of the products, seeds, seedlings and plants available in our catalogues or online, there's still a tempting range to choose from, including some products which aren't available by mail order.
In particular, we stock a great range of seeds. You can take your pick from Sarah's top 60 veg and flower seeds, which complement our Cutting Garden and Year Round Veg courses.
When we're open:
The shop is always open on Courses or Open Days, so you can take home more than just inspiration when you visit.
contact information
Telephone: 0345 092 0283 (Option 3)
Our team are available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Email: courses@sarahraven.com
Post:
Sarah Raven's Garden and Cookery School
Perch Hill Farm
Willingford Lane
Brightling
Robertsbridge
East Sussex
TN32 5HP
Please note these contact details are for Perch Hill Courses and Events, or the Perch Hill Shop only. If you would like to contact us about our mail order shop (catalogues or website), please visit this page.
private visits
Gardening groups, private parties and horticultural societies are welcome to visit Perch Hill by arrangement.
If you are interested in bringing a group to the garden please contact us on 01424 838000 or email julie.richford@thecuttinggarden.com for further details.
frequently asked questions
Once I have booked a course, when will I be sent the booking details and will tickets be posted?
You will initially receive an automated email from our order system to confirm your booking. You will then receive a course confirmation email which will contain all the information that you will need before attending the course – details of the course, names booked on the course, directions and local B&B information etc. The course confirmation email will be sent to you within 2 weeks of placing your booking. Please note that our courses and events are ticketless and you do not need to bring a ticket with you on the day.
Once I have booked an Open Day will I be sent tickets?
No, all of our open day dates are ticketless events. We send you an order confirmation once you have placed your order, please show that on your phones, or printed out, for entry into the gardens.
Can I cancel a course booking?
If you are unable to attend a course/event you have booked and paid for:
A friend or family member is welcome to attend in your place. You will need to provide us with their name, dietary requirements and contact email address/phone number as soon as possible prior to the course/event date.
If we receive 8 weeks’ notice or more:
Sarah Raven Ltd will refund the full cost of your course/event.
If we receive more than 4 weeks’ notice:
Sarah Raven Ltd will transfer you to another suitable course/event of the same value. In this instance this must be a straight swap onto another course we have availability on within the same season. I,e no more than 6 weeks from the original course date booked. Furthermore, we are unable to carry course credits over to the following calendar year. Please note, we cannot issue vouchers to spend on other products at sarahraven.com
If we receive less than 4 weeks’ notice:
We are unable to offer a refund or transfer as we have inadequate time to re-sell the place. A friend or family member is welcome to attend in your place. If you find you are unable to attend a Course with less than 4 weeks’ notice, please call us so we may advise further. A course/event place purchased as a gift carries the same cancellation policy. The course value cannot be transferred over to use on Sarah Raven products.
If we need to cancel a course/event:
Sarah Raven Ltd may cancel any course/event due to illness or very low numbers, and you will then have the option of a transfer to another course/event of the same value or a full refund of your payment.
Can I cancel an Open Day booking?
No, all of our open day dates are non-transferable and non-refundable. If you are unable to attend you are welcome to send your order confirmation along to someone who can attend in your place.
Is there disabled access and parking at Perch Hill?
Parking for courses, garden visits and garden open days will be in the grass field next to the Cutting Garden. There is also a drop off point located outside the Perch Hill building for anyone with mobility issues.
There is a disabled toilet on site.
Please note: during the wetter times of the year the grass may be muddy and the paths are sometimes slippery and a little uneven, so please do wear suitable shoes or boots and take extra care. The garden can pose problems for people in wheelchairs as there are steps and gravel paths in some areas.
Can I bring my dog along to one of the Open Days?
Dogs are not allowed into the gardens at Perch Hill. There is however, a field at the bottom of the site for parking where dogs can be exercised.
What do I do if I’m delayed or stuck in traffic the morning of a course?
Please phone Perch Hill directly on 01424 838000 or Customer Services on 0345 092 0283 to let us know.
Is there food available at the Open Days?
Tea and coffee is available to purchase during Open Day slots which are 'Garden Entry Only'. Lunch is available ONLY during Open Day slots which are 'Garden Entry with Lunch', and this must be pre-booked.
When can I visit the shop and what can I buy there?
The Perch Hill Shop is open for anyone attending our Open Days or courses. Please note we do not have the space to hold the full mail order line, but we do stock a selection of Sarah's favourite items.
Where can I stay when visiting Perch Hill?
We don't have any visitor accommodation at Perch Hill (except for our Feast and Festival weekends) but we can recommend a few local hotels and B&Bs. Please click here to download a PDF listing nearby accommodation.
directions
Perch Hill is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty so we must be considerate to our surroundings. We do therefore ask that you take a moment to review the directions ahead of your journey.
To keep everyone happy and to avoid the narrower parts of the road, it’s imperative to access from the south end of Willingford Lane.
Before travelling to Perch Hill, please double check the date of the Open Day, Shopping Day or pre-booked course you wish to attend, as Perch Hill is not open to visitors at any other time.
our address
Sarah Raven's Garden and Cookery School
Perch Hill Farm
Willingford Lane
Brightling
Robertsbridge
East Sussex
TN32 5HP
What3Words location
This will take you to the south end of Willingford lane, please keep driving until you see Perch Hill
directions by car
Local campaigning to protect the AONB environment and those of us who enjoy it has been successful in designating the special ancient route-way of Willingford Lane as a: ‘Single-track narrow road with no passing places for 2 miles’.
If using Sat Nav please ensure you add School Hill in Burwash as a via point. This way you avoid the dangers of the narrower end of the lane with minimal passing places, or use the post code TN32 5HL and then follow the road to Perch Hill.
If following a map, please avoid accessing Willingford Lane via Burwash Weald for the same reason.
When leaving Perch Hill, please turn left into Willingford Lane to avoid the narrower end of the lane.
Turn off the M25 (junction 5) onto the A21 for Sevenoaks/Hastings, heading south. Bypass Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Pembury and continue on the A21 to Hurst Green.
Turn right on the A265, signposted to Lewes. Go through Etchingham and continue to Burwash.
Make sure to turn left down School Hill by the war memorial in Burwash. From Burwash, follow the lane down into the valley. After half a mile, you pass and leave Bateman's Lane on the right. You start to climb the far side of the valley, where the road is now called King's Hill Road. After a further mile, you pass and leave Fontridge Lane on your left and continue uphill for a further 1.2 miles to the crossroads at the top of the hill, which is a total just over 2 1/2 miles from Burwash.
At the crossroads, turn right into Willingford Lane there (signposted Burwash Weald).
Perch Hill Farm is down the lane about 0.85 miles from the crossroads. Turn through the double gate into the grass field next to the Cutting Garden, following the signs.
If you are approaching us from the direction of the coast via Battle, take the B2096 Battle to Heathfield road. Go through Netherfield and on to Woods Corner.
At The Swan Inn, on your left, turn right (signposted to Brightling) and follow the road for about three-quarters of a mile. Take the first left and go up the hill, then take the next left into Willingford Lane.
Perch Hill Farm is on your right about 0.85 miles from the crossroads. Turn through the double gate into the grass field next to the Cutting Garden, following the signs.
If you're coming in from the direction of Heathfield on the A265, travel through the town, up the hill and straight across the traffic lights. Take the next right hand turn signposted to Battle (B2096). Continue through Punnett's Town, Three Cups and on to Woods Corner.
You will pass on the left a raised pathway and village post office just before a staggered crossroads with The Swan Inn on the opposite side. Turn left here and follow the road for about three-quarters of a mile, take your first left and go up the hill and turn first left into Willingford Lane.
Perch Hill Farm is on your right about 0.85 miles from the crossroads. Turn through the double gate into the grass field next to the Cutting Garden, following the signs.
Please do not go on to Burwash Weald, nor turn left down Willingford Lane opposite the Wheel Inn. For visitors to Perch Hill to use this route is extremely inconvenient for our neighbours.
Turn left on to the A265 and go through Burwash Common & Burwash Weald to Burwash itself. Drive slowly through the village and at the far end, by the church, turn right at the war memorial. Take the lane called School Hill that runs downhill from the war memorial.
From Burwash, follow the lane down into the valley. After half a mile, you pass and leave Bateman’s Lane on the right. You start to climb the far side of the valley, where the road is now called King’s Hill Road. After a further mile, you pass and leave Fontridge Lane on your left and continue uphill for a further 1.2 miles to the crossroads at the top of the hill, which is a total just over 2 1/2 miles from Burwash.
At the crossroads, turn right into Willingford Lane there (signposted Burwash Weald).
Go north from the village with the church on your left followed by a phone box. After about half a mile take the first right towards Burwash and after about 400 yards you will come to a crossroads. Willingford Lane is straight over the crossroads and Perch Hill Farm is about 0.85 miles down the lane on the right hand side. Turn through the double gate into the grass field next to the Cutting Garden, following the signs.
directions by train from London
The journey takes just over an hour from London.
A taxi should be arranged to meet the train at Etchingham station, which is on the Hastings Line. It is very important to note there is not a taxi rank at the station; the journey is approx 15 minutes to Perch Hill Farm.
Please confirm with the taxi driver on arrival, which train you will catch for your return journey, he will then tell you the time that he will return to Perch Hill to collect you after your visit.
It is essential to book in advance, please pay the taxi driver direct.
Local taxi telephone numbers:
• Boaz 07837 064853
• Tony 07855 071269
• French & Son 01435 867777
• Heathfield Taxis 01435 862263
• Simpson Private Hire 01435 866021
• H4 Cars Iain Hopkin 01580 201023 or 07757 792817 or iainhopkin@gmail.com