skylark Fields Farm Shop

Would and always will recommend this shop to any family and friends, the place is great and the food even better.  The bacon is just simply out of this world.  Always friendly, always helpful, I honestly don't think it's possible to improve.

This farm shop started very humbly, selling free-range eggs and, at Christmas time, a few Christmas trees with a few snotty kids running around.  I  have, for 8 years, been a loyal customer and have been happy to see the recent developments.  Unfortunately these people have sold out in a big way, just like most do.  I noticed quite a long time ago that, although the Gloucester Old Spots were present on the farm (not evident over the recent years though), the pork from them wasn't for sale in the farm shop.  In fact the most upsetting thing is that the ham, pork, bacon etc. is from EU sources which, until 2012 did not need to comply with the rigid UK animal welfare provisos (putting lots of UK pig breaders at a vast disadvantage and out of business).  We were assured that by 2012 all EU-bred pigs would not be penned-in and that they would be allowed freedom of movement.  This is not happening as it is very difficult to police and check up on.  Jamie Oliver proved this point in his TV programme a couple of years ago.

I dropped by yesterday to buy my Christmas tree but had stupidly left my handbag at home.  Even though I have been a customer for 8 years, they wouldn't let me take a tree and pay when I got home - their excuse was, "Tescos or Waitrose wouldn't do that" - well maybe I should go to Tesco or Waitrose instead because these people are no different. They start off thinking they have something better to offer and are animal-welfare friendly but they have been sucked into the usual, greedy, consumer-orientated pig-sty.

It is very sad.

I really like Skylarks.
I first went there to buy my Christmas tree this year and was very impressed by the farm shop.
But the best the thing is the new cafe. Proper good fry-up with lovely views including free range chickens running across the field just outside the window.
The staff are very friendly too.