In Ashley, a garage is not just a garage. It might be possible, perhaps at a stretch these days admittedly, to justify filling your garage in a village with a gas guzzling four wheel drive, but times they are achanging and in Ashley, the Ashley Herb Farm led the way. Situated on the high street at the heart of the village, the business started its life in a garage. No dirty particulates and clouds of suffocating exhaust fumes here. Not in this garage. But rather the heady scent of lavender or the gentle waft of scented geranium on a warm summers day. And now Ashley Herb Farm has grown and expanded out from its original small beginnings. As demand has grown and new ideas have taken shape so the range of produce has expanded and now you walk beyond the garage, through the gate crunching gravel as you go and meeting friendly hens along the way. There are many new products in the shop now, local meat and vegetables, cheeses and juices and my favourite and my weakness - the home made chocolate brownies. But what sets Ashley Herb Shop apart, even now, is the friendly service and the welcoming smiles. I am a little biased I think, because I rolled up late there recently, resigned to the fact that I'd probably just cut it a bit to fine and I was right, they were closed. But do you know what they did? Seeing me arrive and obviously noting the despondent look on my face, they opened right on up again and waited happily and with patience while I grabbed the things I needed. Now that's a village farm shop that has it's heart in the right place and has a dedicated customer for life.

Since opening earlier this year we aim to do most of our food shopping at Ashley Herb Farm. Quality is excellent, and prices reasonable. Friendly service too.

Ashley Farm Shop now sell their own home reared lamb and beef, they also sell free range eggs, free range chickens, seasonal vegetables, organic milk and cream, Welland Valley rapeseed oil, bread, homemade cakes and biscuits, homemade pickles, chutneys and jams, wild bird food and accessories, herbs, perennials, potted bulbs, planters and hanging baskets.