Simon Whaley recommends seven of his favourite farms, each with a shop and walking trails
01 FORDHALL ORGANIC FARM SHOP, MARKET DRAYTON, SHROPSHIRE
England’s first community-owned farm has one farmer, and 8,000 owners globally. The shop sells organic beef, lamb, pork, eggs and local veg. Arthur’s Farm Kitchen serves tasty dishes; and three trails explore the organic Tern Valley pastures and meadows. fordhallfarm.com
02 ARCHERFIELD WALLED GARDEN, DIRLETON, EAST LOTHIAN
The Archerfield Estate’s walled garden once produced over 110 varieties of apple and 57 varieties of pear. Today, you can buy its salad and vegetables in its food market, which also sells Scottish artisan products, such as salmon and cheese. Explore the propagation tunnels and potager garden. archerfieldwalledgarden.com
03 DARTS FARM, TOPSHAM, DEVON
Over 50 different types of homegrown fruit and vegetables, including the wonky ones, fill the farm shop alongside a selection of produce from local artisan producers. Take the farm trail beside crop fields and visit the biodiverse wetlands overlooking the Exe estuary, managed by their Ruby Red cows. dartsfarm.co.uk
04 LOW SIZERGH BARN, KENDAL, CUMBRIA
The three-floor 17th-century barn here is stocked with local produce and is a British Cheese Award recipient, thanks to its wide selection of cheeses. Explore the two-mile ancient woodland trail, then pop into the café overlooking the milking parlour and watch the cows being milked. sizerghfarm.co.uk
05 RHUG ESTATE ORGANIC FARM SHOP, CORWEN, DENBIGHSHIRE
With a Royal Warrant for supplying organic meat to the
