Secretts Farm for the freshest asparagus

	1908	Mr F.A Secrett purchased 20 acres of land in Kew with a £1,000 loan from his father. Salad, leguminous crops, early cauliflower & sea kale were the first produce to be harvested. He sold his produce from a stand at Brentford Market.
	1915	Mr F.A purchased Marsh Farm in Twickenham -100 acres that included 6 acres of tulips & daffoldils. He sold his produce from a stand in Covent Garden.
	1921	First trials with irrigation and foliar feeding.
	1932	Mr F.A purchased Holly Lodge in Walton on Thames. After a few years it was taken over by the water board and turned into a reservoir.
	1937	Secretts moved to the present site of Hurst Farm in Milford Surrey.
	1940	With the onset of war all future plans were halted. Fields of daffodils & tulips were burnt to provide land for essential food crops. By the time war broke out the farm had reached one of highest levels of vegetable production in the country.
	1950	With the easing of war time restrictions improvement plans continued and the farm grew to 300 acres. The first half acre of glasshouse was built for the cultivation of salad crops and cut flowers.
	1960's	The extensive irrigation system (still in operation today) allowed a wide variety of crops to be grown. Markets throughout Britian were supplied. During peak periods 40-50 tons of vegetables a day were sent to Covent Garden & Brentford markets.
	1970's	A difficult and challenging period within the horticultural industry. Crops were dramaticaly reduced, cut flowers were phased out together with the teams of cart horses. A new direction was sought with the opening of the Garden Centre in 1970 followed by the Farm Shop in 1979.
	1980's	Crops continued to be streamlined leaving only spinach, primo cabbage & lettuce grown. Secretts were the first growers to make spinach available in supermarkets. Expansion continued on the retail side with the opening of the Pick Your Own in 1981 and the addition in 1982 of a delicatessen at the Farm Shop. Cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines & chillies were grown under glass until 1985. In 1988 two thirds of an acre of the farm were turned over to vine production. The first bottle of Milford Rose English table wine was ready in 1993 and was produced until 1996. Over 7,000 bottles were produced in its last year.
	1990's	Secretts were the first farm to grow wild rocket in this country and we started to supply top London restaurants with our produce.
	1992 -1995	A 2.5 acre glasshouse was opened dedicated to growing cut flowers which were sold in a our newly-built Flower Shop. The mid 90's saw the beginning of Secretts Flowers by Post service and in 1995 we started our Fresh Asparagus by post and Sweet Peas by post.
	1996	Secrett Rendezvous Coffee Shop opened at the Garden Centre.
	1997	Eliza's 1930's style Tea Room opened at the Farm Shop, named after Mr F.A's Mother, Eliza Secrett.
	1998	Waverly Borough Council started the first Farmer's Market at Secretts Farm shop in Milford.
	2000	Due to the increasing demand for salad crops, cut flower production was ceased and gourmet baby leaf production began in the glass house.
	2001	With demand growing for our salad crops in London, Secretts Direct was established, enabling top London restaurants to receive daily deliveries of our produce.
	2005	Gourmet Salad Leaves by post service.
	2006	Secretts Farm Won the Observer Food Monthly Best Producer Award.
	2007	Secretts of Rudgwick - New village store opened on 6th March. Selling fresh fruit & vegetables, fresh meats, quality grocery products, locally baked bread & cakes, Over 100 Cheeses are available 7 days a week.