Now that the hedgerows are greening up and the blackthorn is in full bloom, driving down the little road that leads to Callow Farm Shop, near Stonesfield, is a real joy. I made my trip during the period when volcanic ash was preventing aircraft from flying overhead, making the trip even more perfect.

The shop is part of a small 150-acre family-run farm. If you are travelling from Woodstock you will travel west on the A44 until you reach the B4437 that leads to Charlbury. The farm shop is sign-posted once you reach the second left turn to Stonesfield.

Like so many Oxfordshire farm shops, it is well worth a visit as it is being run by an enthusiastic young farmer who is doing all he can to ensure his farm is environmentally friendly.

Dave Holloway is the fourth generation of his family to farm this land. He admits that farming is more difficult now than it was when his grandfather farmed here – but he would never consider leaving the land. It’s in his blood.

Looking round the farm he said: “It’s such a varied life, I love it. I love tinkering about with the machinery, feeding the livestock and hens, and being involved with the shop. Every day is different, every day is exciting.”

He admits, however, that a love of farming is not enough these days – you have to be able to market your products too, which is why he spent some time earlier in the year talking to a marketing consultant for advice on promoting and marketing the shop.

“Apparently putting up a sign on the road advertising the shop is not enough. I must have an Internet presence, Facebook and that sort of thing. I am working on that now,” he said.

Dave is very proud of his free-range eggs, which really are free-range and often sold when they are but a few hours old. He has about 100 laying hens at the moment, but aims to have at least 400 very soon. He has a few sheep and 20 pigs at the moment, a couple of which are Gloucester Old Spots. His aim is to take on more and more of the old breeds, for although they take longer to rear, he sees it as the way he wishes to go.

The farm has been run under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme for ten years. This is a scheme introduced in England in 1991 and operates in environmentally sensitive areas. Payment is made to farmers and other land managers to enhance and conserve the English landscapes, their wildlife and history, and help people to enjoy them.

The scheme has now been superseded by the Environmental Stewardship Scheme, which has similar aims and promotes bio-diversity.

Looking after the land in an environmentally-friendly way, with patches of land left for the skylarks to nest and borders round the fields where wild flowers can flourish and attract insects, has meant that Callow Farm has its fair share of birds, including skylarks. Dave points out that he can see that this form of farming is working.

“A neighbouring farmer who farms in less environmentally-friendly way has very few skylarks on his land now. It’s amazing how much difference the skylark patches and wildflower borders can make.”

The polytunnel filled with salad seedlings and herbs is one of Dave’s latest projects.

“I hope to be able to produce a variety of vegetables myself – who knows, I might even be able to put together some veg boxes next year that can sell alongside meat boxes. I also aim to put more land down to grass so that I can graze a herd of sheep, but that might have to wait until next year now. First, I want to get the polytunnel established.”

There are two butchers working in the farm shop, Phil Little and Dave Sherbourne, who keep the meat counter topped up with a variety of joints and sausages. Not all the meat they prepare has come from Callow Farm, but it is all sourced locally – free-range being the main selling point.

Phil, a butcher for more than 40 years, makes the sausages from Callow Farm pork, using an old family sausage recipe handed down to him from his father. He also makes lemon and chive sausages that are very popular, as well as apple and cider, and leek and ginger – some of which are sold to local pubs, restaurants and catering outlets.

You will find a good assortment of vegetables in the shop, which have been sourced locally, as well as a selection of breads supplied by Hawkins Bakery, Carterton.

Callow Farm Shop is open from 8am Mondays to Saturdays, with late closing (6pm, rather than 5pm) on Thursday and Friday. The shop closes at 2pm on Saturday. For more information you can phone: 01993 891967 or go to the website: www.callowfarm.co.uk