Farm Shop Receives £20,000 Grant

Jonathan and Laura Burrell, owners of the retailer located in Fordingbridge in Hampshire, will be using the new funds to expand the business to include an increased range of locally-produced foods, a more complete product offering and a sustainable woodland.

Laura said, “My husband and I, who are both local, bought the farm last November and when we moved in there was already planning permission to extend. The farm shop which has been around for nearly 40 years.

“The local parish council have been fantastic with their support – they put us in contact with someone from Hampshire Country Council who had a look around. She loved the plans that we had. Because we’re a village of 3000 or less, we were eligible for a grant for £20,000 from the council.”

When asked about the extensions to current product lines the grant will provide, Laura explained that highlighting the quality of local produce, and supporting local producers, is key. “We’re buying from local producers, and have just taken on some rare breed British pigs which will be in the shop soon. What’s really important to us is that we buy local and support local producers. We sell fine cheeses, local ice cream, local fruit and veg, jams and pickles and meat – all sorts! The village shop closed down about four years ago, so we’ve also got store cupboard items and things for tourists so that all bases are covered.” The store aims to be a one-stop local shop. “Customers will benefit from our extended range, including a larger amount of local products, without having to go into the main town three miles away.”

It’s not just the shop itself which will benefit from the grant – the owners aim to turn the shop into an environment-friendly, community-based project. “The money is going towards the extension, and we’re working very closely with the New Forest National Park because we have a little copse we’d like to turn into a sustainable woodland.”