Shop stock found on doorstep

A village shop is one of 12 in the country involved in a trial to see if stock can be sourced from within a 30-mile radius.

Flintham Community Shop, which is run by about 20 volunteers, was set up in 2005 with £30,000 from Nottinghamshire Community Council.

The shop stocks 500 items including household products, magazines, newspapers and staples like bread and milk.

It already sells some locally sourced produce but that is set to increase when the shop takes part in a national pilot scheme that will see it selling items made, grown or reared within 30 miles.

The chairman of the shop’s steering group, Mrs Sue Clayton, said: “Small suppliers have as many difficulties as we have.

“If we work together we can only benefit. It’s good to support local people. It’s also environmentally sound.

“We’ll probably still sell basic groceries as well but we’re looking at how easy things are to source locally and then we’ll see how the community reacts to them.

“Sourcing products locally is important because it keeps money in the area and it is good for things like air miles. It’s sensible on so many different levels.”

Mrs Clayton said she would encourage other villages without a shop to consider setting one up.

“It’s hard work but worth it,” she said.

“It only works if the staff are volunteers unless you’ve got a much bigger customer base. It is a great way to get to know people in the village.”

The year-long local produce trial is being run by the Plunkett Foundation, an educational charity that supports the development of rural enterprise groups. It is being paid for with Lottery money.

Mrs Clayton said they were hoping to stock as much local produce as possible so she was keen to speak to a range of suppliers.

Local produce currently sold includes bread from Nicholsons Bakery in Newark, free-range eggs from Church Farm, Syerston, and from Lincolnshire, honey from Aslockton, milk from Netherfield Dairy, Hockerton and vegetables from Woodlands Farm, Kirton.

Mrs Clayton said any profits from the shop, housed in a portable building made from Scandinavian pine behind Flintham Museum on Inholms Road, went back into the community.

It supplied the prizes for Flintham Primary School’s recent sunflower competition.

Flintham’s original village shop closed more than 20 years ago and residents had to travel to Farndon or East Bridgford for provisions.

The community shop opened three years ago.

Mr Les Sizer (88) of Main Street, Flintham, was its first customer and, until recently, he volunteered there once a week.

“The shop’s very useful,” he said. “It can sometimes get quite busy with customers.”

Volunteer Mrs Margaret Morris of Coney Grey Spinney, Flintham, said: “We have a cup of coffee and chat to who comes in.

“It’s a very good idea to have a shop. It’s often things like bread and milk people come in for. They like the fresh eggs too. They are our best seller.”

The shop opens from 10.30am-1pm and 3pm-5pm weekdays, and at various times at weekends.