Rural farming in the south east of England is a dynamic and highly productive sector. With an average farm size of 89 hectares, the region blends extensive arable crop production-particularly wheat and specialised fruits-with pastoral farming and extensive livestock grazing.
The south east yields about £605 million in total farming income, heavily driven by specialised land use and high-value crops. The region is famously know as the "Garden of England." It produces over 40% of England's orchard fruits and more than 55% of all small fruits, alongside notable commercial flower and lavender production.
Wheat and barley are prominent, occupying large swathes of general cropping land across Kent, Sussex and Oxfordshire. Pastoral farming focuses primarily on grazing livestock, such as sheep and beef cattle, particularly across the undulating terrain of the South Downs.