A straw bale building at Stanmer
The Fruit Factory is the hub of Brighton Permaculture Trust’s scrumping project—rescuing fruit that would otherwise go to waste. From humble beginnings in a barn at Stanmer Park, it now processes up to 40 tons of fruit a year—that’s over 250,000 apples! This fruit is turned into juice, jams, and other products, supporting both sustainability and community education.
The story of the building
The project began as a straw bale structure inside an old tractor shed in July 2014. Straw bale construction may seem unusual, but it’s a perfect fit for permaculture principles: low-impact, renewable, and surprisingly robust. As part of our educational work, much of the building process has involved participants on our Building with Straw Bales course, giving hands-on experience in sustainable construction.
You can view the straw bale design here (PDF – opens in a new window) to see how the building was planned and constructed.
After completing the straw bale walls, we needed windows, doors, a roof, plaster, render, and connections to utilities. In March 2015, we launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £12,000 in 30 days—and exceeded our goal, raising £12,601.25 from 236 donors! This enabled us to complete the building, providing much-needed space for scrumping, storage, workshops, and public events.
Today, The Fruit Factory is more than just a building. It’s a space where people gather to learn, volunteer, and celebrate local food. Every litre of juice produced comes from fruit that might otherwise have gone to waste, feeding both community and environment alike. Volunteers are at the heart of the project, helping with scrumping, processing, and educational activities.
The Fruit Factory
Stanmer Village, Stanmer
Brighton
BN1 9PZ
Once you are in Stanmer Park, follow signs for Stanmer Village & Tea Rooms; it’s on your left.
How to get to Stanmer Park
By train
Falmer Station is under 10 minutes from Brighton or Lewes (about 4 trains/hour). From the station, it’s a pleasant 30–minute walk to the Fruit Factory. Exit the station, go through the underpass under the main road, turn left, and continue alongside the road until you reach the main park entrance.
By bus
Routes 23, 25, 25X, 28 and 29 run from central Brighton to the Stanmer Park Lower Lodge entrance. On weekends (from 10 am) the 78 also serves Stanmer Village.
By bike
If you’re a cyclist there are purpose-built bike lanes along Lewes Road connecting Stanmer Park to the centre of Brighton. Allow at least 25 minutes to cycle from Brighton.
Get information about hiring bikes in Brighton.
By car
Stanmer Park is just off the A27 between Brighton and Lewes. The best postcode, if you are using sat nav, is BN1 9QA, which is Stanmer House. The main car park (Patchway car park) is straight on past Stanmer House.
Parking costs from £1.50/£1.70 per hour up to £6.80/£9.20 per day.
Please note: All the car parks now only take payment via the PaybyPhone app or by calling 01273 458 458. We recommend you download the app before you visit to save time when you arrive.
If you don’t have a smartphone, you need to set up a PaybyPhone account in advance to allow you to pay over the phone (by calling 01273 458 458) when you reach the car park. Find more information on how to pay for parking over the phone (rather than using the app).
Discover how The Fruit Factory helps reduce fruit waste and supports our community.
Embrace the opportunity to make a meaningful impact!
Whether you’re interested in environmental initiatives, community engagement, or skill-building, we welcome your involvement. Take an active part contributing your skills and passion to drive positive change by volunteering with us.