Our local farm shops

Knowing the source of your nutrient-rich fresh food and supporting your local community are just a couple of reasons why buying farm fresh may be best. Sourcing produce directly from growers or locally-supplied farm shops can ensure the best quality, nutritional value and add an extra feel-good factor as you bring your food from farm to fork. Here are four of our local farm shops to try…

Worzals Farm Shop is a hidden gem in the Fens. This welcoming family-run business just off the A47 near Wisbech has won top accolades in the food and beverage industry. Selling a range of local produce from jams to award-winning beef, and plenty of local artisan products, Worzals Farm Shop is well worth a visit. Walk between the pantry items, through its array of chilled produce and you’ll arrive at Worzals’ experienced butchers. And don’t forget to stop by the deli.

Vine House Farm at Deeping St Nicholas, near Spalding, is also an amazing provider of British and locallysourced food bringing customers as much Lincolnshire-sourced produce as it can. As well as providing its own array of organic produce directly from its farm, the shop sells organic frozen food, store cupboard essentials such as preserves, bread and flour, fresh flowers, free range eggs and a fishmonger on a Thursday. The food is such good quality you’ll find it sold in its café and its potatoes sold to the likes of McCain and Morrisons. Head towards March to enjoy Skylark Garden Centre’s farm shop, renowned for its fresh and budget-conscious essentials range, as well as a recently expanded offering. As well as providing its usual locally-sourced fresh fruit and vegetables, the farm shop now stocks a wide range of essentials from local suppliers, including bread, flour, local cakes, apple juice, milk, eggs and honey. Don’t miss its new freezer section also stocking a great range of local meats. If you live within 7 miles you can get free delivery.

If you live closer to Peterborough, Ferry Meadows offers delicious and locallysourced produce that you can purchase from its farm shop on your next visit. Featuring a range of fresh food, kitchen cupboard specialities and beverages, you can buy newly-baked bread, meat and pies, seasonings and even fudge, to name just a few, all locally sourced. As a part of the Park to Plate partnership, Nene Park Trust work with local first-generation farmers, the Baxter Brothers, who prioritise the welfare of animals and the environment.

From 3–31 October, Worzals Garden Centre, near Wisbech, will be opening Rusty’s Great Pumpkin Patch and it’s set to be bigger than ever, with more than 20,000 home-grown pumpkins. There will also be an electric car track, treasure trail and treats available at Bertha’s coffee and creamery kiosk. www.worzals.com

Families can enjoy a jam-packed day of pumpkin picking and carving, phantoms, magic and comedy. Other fun activities include den building, pig racing, scarecrow smash, the jumping pillow and King Coop’s Castle. Book online for tickets. www.skylark-events.co.uk

Home to a multitude of activities from watersports and cycle hire to boat trips, archery and climbing-wall sessions, there’s never a dull day at Nene Park. During October half-term, families can also make scarecrows (23 October) to decorate the park, with the best winning a prize. On 25, 26 and 28 October, families can search for the witch's lost items in the trees and if they find them all they’ll be rewarded with their own broomsticks!

During half term, the Vine House Farm will be offering tractor and trailer rides, a pumpkin trail and a chance to win a tree-planting kit. If you turn up in Halloween costumes, children can get a free hot chocolate too. Head along to learn about the farm and the resident wildlife.