Harker's Farm Shop has everything you need for your Christmas feast

Christmas is a time for feasting but if you’re anything like me then you’ll dread the thought of battling your way around a crowded supermarket as you stock up for the big day. But at Harker’s Farm Shop, the experience couldn’t be more different. Located in the sleepy hamlet of Clipston-on-the-Wolds in south Nottinghamshire, the shop is surrounded by fields and country lanes and offers a relaxing alternative to the usual Christmas rush. My colleague and I visited the farm shop earlier this month to see what was in store for the festive season ahead. After stopping to admire the traditional wreaths and plump, healthy-looking Christmas trees we were met by Tracy Harker who runs the shop and nearby farm with her husband Rupert. Of course, for many people Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without the all-important turkey – but for those in the trade it’s a year-round job. The couple get the turkey chicks early in the year when they are just a week old and they are reared for around eight months until Christmas. When we met the brood they were happily pecking around outside – and neither of us could believe quite how big the birds were.

Tracy said: “I can’t think of any other producers in the area that rears and butchers its own turkeys so we’re quite unique. There are no food miles whatsoever.” Inside, the farm shop is brimming with local produce which is perfect for an indulgent Christmas. As well as turkey Rupert tells us that the shop has a range of alternatives including beef ribs, pork, gammon and game. There are also plenty of local cheeses, such as the Christmas classic Stilton from Colston Bassett Dairy, as well as a wide selection of chutneys and condiments.

Other treats on offer include locally-made Christmas puddings, fish, local vegetables and jars of duck fat for your roast potatoes and if you are looking for the ultimate foodie gift then Harker’s also offers various hampers. As well as being a farm shop, Harker's also has a small animal park, which means you can combine your Christmas shopping with a family trip out. At the farm, little ones can meet an array of animals including Shetland ponies, goats, peacocks, guinea-pigs and more.