Sam Edden and Fred Duncannon started Stansted Park Farm Shop in 2012 in the old estate stables. In 2017 we moved into our new bespoke barn with room for a butchery, deli and kitchen.

We had both moved back to the area with our families at about the same time, Sam from Brighton and Events Management, Fred from London and television. Frustrated with being unable to source local fish, game and produce, we set about starting a new farm shop. When a lease came up at Stansted Park we combined forces and the farm shop was born, focusing on local produce, meat and fish.

We quickly realized that the existing shop was not big enough for what we wanted, and asked the Stansted Park Foundation for larger premises. After three years of planning the Foundation built the wonderful new bespoke barn, across the courtyard from our old shop. The wood-beamed building uses Douglas fir timber from the estate that was planted in 1946 by the Women’s Land Army.

We fitted out the shop, butchery and kitchen through crowdfunding with a Kickstarter campaign that raised over £35,000 with more than 270 backers. We also secured a LEADER grant fund for £37,000, as well as investing our own capital and additional help from other generous individuals.

The result is a fantastic building full of character, light and which acts as a gateway to the Stansted Park Estate and all that is going on here. It acts as a brilliant showcase for the amazing variety of produce that is now being crafted in Sussex and Hampshire.