Wealden in a push to help promote local produce

Wealden in a push to promote local food and drink producers

Shops, pubs, cafés and restaurants across Wealden are strengthening their commitment to local food and drink – and Heathfield is playing a leading role.

Since the Sussex Six campaign was introduced locally last summer, 24 Wealden businesses have pledged to increase the amount of Sussex-produced food and drink they serve and sell. For shoppers and diners in Heathfield and the surrounding villages, that means more genuinely local produce on shelves and menus – and more money staying within the community.

A boost for Heathfield’s local economy

The initiative is being supported by Wealden District Council and delivered by Natural Partnerships CIC, the organisation behind Sussex Six.

The message is simple: when you choose local food, you’re investing back into local jobs, farms, high streets and families.

Councillor James Partridge, Leader of Wealden District Council, said choosing local helps towns and villages thrive for generations to come. And consumers appear to agree – almost two-thirds say they prefer to support businesses that sell or serve local products.

The challenge? Knowing which businesses are signed up to the Sussex Six.

Heathfield in the spotlight

Heathfield businesses were front and centre this week when more than 50 food and drink producers and hospitality owners gathered at Tottingworth Farm Shop and Café for a Sussex Six networking workshop.

The event brought together some of the district’s best-known independent names, highlighting just how diverse and vibrant the local food scene has become – from breweries and vineyards to farm shops, pubs and specialist food retailers.

Among the Wealden businesses that have signed the Sussex Six Pledge are:

• Gun Brewery
• Isfield Farm Shop
• Laurel Tree Fruit Farms
• Long Man Brewery Shop
• Plaw Hatch Farm
• Royal Oak and Castle
• Rathfinney Estate (Restaurant)
• South Brockwells Farm Shop
• The Poachers Pocket
• The Star Inn Waldron

And many more – from tap rooms and eco-stores to fine food specialists and traditional inns.

This range shows that “buying local” doesn’t just mean farm shops. It includes your Friday night takeaway, your Sunday lunch pub, your local café stop, your wedding caterer – and even the beer in your batter or the wine on your table.

Making it easier for consumers

To help both businesses and shoppers, an online Wealden and Sussex-wide food and drink directory has been created at www.Sussexfoodanddrink.org. With more than 600 listings and a searchable Google map, it’s now much easier to discover who is producing – and serving – local food near Heathfield.

Hilary Knight from Natural Partnerships says:” Businesses should make their local suppliers visible, name the Sussex cheesemaker, the nearby lamb producer, the village bakery, the local brewery. When customers know where their food comes from, loyalty grows.”

Why it matters

For Heathfield residents, the benefits are tangible:

• Stronger local high streets
• More resilient local farms and producers
• Reduced food miles
• More distinctive menus and shopping choices
• Money circulating within the Wealden economy

The Sussex Six campaign is not about excluding outside products, but about making sure local producers get a fair share of the spotlight – and the spending.

Next time you’re shopping in Heathfield or booking a table locally, it may be worth asking: Is this Sussex made?

Chances are, more and more often, the answer will be yes.