Fabulous farm shops

For freshness, quality and supporting your community, you can’t beat shopping local

- SALLY ROBINSON

Farm shops are becoming increasingly popular in Britain - there are now around 1,500 of them across the UK - and shopping at them brings many benefits, from community spirit to enjoying organic, local produce. With less travel and air miles involved, it's good for the environment, too. Here are just five of our favourites.

RHUG ESTATE FARM SHOP CORWEN, DENBIGHSHIRE

This upscale farm shop in Denbighshire, on one of the largest organic farms in the UK, is all about Welsh produce. Lord Newborough, the farm's owner, is a passionate believer in sustainable farming. Livestock are fed an organic diet and graze on clover-rich pastures.

As well as estate meat (which has a royal warrant), including bison, beef, salt-marsh lamb and venison, the shop stocks over 3,000 Welsh products: cheese from the Snowdonia Cheese Company, Welsh cakes from Tu Hwnt I'r Bont, Penderyn whisky, and Rhug's own wool duvets and luxury organic skincare range. There is also a cafe and a takeaway food hatch, famous for its estate lamb and bison burgers.

*rhug.co.uk

Chatsworth Estate farm shop

DERBYSHIRE