IT all began with some spears of asparagus grown in a neighbouring field, but in six short years, Revills Farm Shop at Defford, near Pershore, has mushroomed into one of the top farm gate enterprises in the Midlands.

It has already been voted best farm shop in Worcestershire and this week it was announced that the shop is on the shortlist of four in the Countryside Alliance Awards’ local food category for the West Midlands area. Win that and national acclaim awaits.

As people flock to the shop housed in an old stable for their fruit, vegetables, meat, cheese, fish, beer and cider, they can thank Isabel Revill for having a bright idea back in 2003.

For it was then that Mrs Revill, who runs Woodfield Farm in nearby Birlingham, with her husband George, decided to start selling asparagus direct to the public and converting the old stable that had previously been used as a family games room. It was all pretty basic to begin with, a trellis table was the shop counter and the cash went into an old biscuit tin.

Then Mrs Revill expanded her stock with other produce grown on the horticultural holding and word soon got around there was a new farm shop on the block.

She said: “At the local farmers’ market in Welland I met with local small producers of quality foods.

Some soon became suppliers to us and are still supplying today.

“We also joined HEFF – otherwise known as Heart of England Fine Foods – and that gave us links to other producers locally. So we introduced local diary products, meats, biscuits and a wide range of other local produce.”

The shop is now run by Darren Hedges in what has been a complete change of career. Darren, who is married to the Revills’ daughter Helen, was previously a fine art photographic printer in London, before moving with his family from Surrey to Worcestershire.

Under his guidance, the farm shop now stocks an even larger range of local meats and game.

Fish arrives from St Ives, Cornwall, where it is prepared to order, frozen and then sent overnight to Defford. Seasonal vegetables are grown at Woodfield Farm by George Revill and the shop also sells local apples, plums, pears, damsons and local preserves.

Darren said: “I think part of our success here is that we concentrate on good, local produce and everything is traceable.

All the meat, for example, comes from within a fivemile radius. Despite some of the stories in the Press about shortages, we should be OK for turkeys this Christmas.

“I anticipate selling 150- plus, which is a steady rise on previous years.”

To qualify for the Countryside Alliance awards, rural businesses have to be nominated by their customers and understandably Darren was appreciative of the support for the Revills’ enterprise.

He said: “We have some good, loyal customers and I can’t thank them enough for their support.

“The atmosphere here at Christmas is superb. We have the mulled wine out and everyone gets into the real Christmas spirit.”

As well as Revills, three other Worcestershire business have been shortlisted in the regional awards.

The traditional business section includes Pete the Meat of Astwood Bank, near Redditch; Leggs of Bromyard and Helen Needham Saddlery of Cookley, near Kidderminster.

Feckenham Community Shop has been nominated for best village shop or post office.

Now in their fifth year, the Countryside Alliance awards celebrate the characters, skills, traditions and enterprise of the countryside through the people who work hard to make it tick.

All the shortlisted candidates will now be assessed by a panel of judges and the names of regional winners announced before Christmas.

The UK finals will follow with the winners’ names announced at the Houses of Parliament on February 3.