MORCOMBELAKE: Farm shop finally gets opening ceremony

The shop has been operating since November last year, but after a busy first few months in some wintery weather conditions, the shop is now ready for its first summer season.

Mark Hix, who opened the store on Monday of last week, said: “I think it’s important to support these little farm shops. This place is great, it’s fantastic. I think its good that they are open minded and they can endorse and sell local produce.

“The building has been empty for a while and I looked at it a few times but I think a farm shop is perfect for it. I think there is a good opportunity to host other events here as well.”

Owner Felicity Perkin praised her staff and suppliers at the opening who she said had battled on through a harsh winter.

“It’s been great, we have been really well supported by all the local people and lots of people passing by have called in,” she said.

“We have been open through some awful weather and got really cold but the staff have been brilliant. All our suppliers were brilliant and struggled through it all and stuck by us and we have had a fantastic response from everybody.

“I’m delighted to see so many people here today for our opening and we’d like to thank Mark very much for coming down today and for supporting me in the past and giving me advice.”

Felicity previously ran the Dorset Garden Party shop in Charmouth, where she first met Mark, and has been living in Morcombelake for the last ten years.

The new farm shop stocks local produce as well as offering garden accessories, a range of plants and herbs, animal feed and fuel for home fires.

The new shop also offers a take away service, named “The Filling Station”, providing hot food and daily specials made with local produce.

To celebrate the official opening the shop had suppliers in store all last week offering samples of their products.

PICTURE: GRAND OPENING - Felicity Perkin with son Tom, sister Penny Leins and celebrity chef Mark Hix