After hours & behind the scenes at Apley Farm Shop

I remember someone telling me when they opened their walled garden to the public for the first time that what their visitors most wanted to see was how it all worked behind the scenes & how they wanted to see the potting shed, the compost heap, the ‘admin’ areas. To an extent, I can understand that. So last month, on a beautiful sunny, late June evening, I snapped these photos when Gavin & I were at the farm shop after hours hanging the current Secret Shropshire exhibition in the Creamery Café.

Head Chef of the Creamery Cafe, Martin, was at the computer costing out his new menu. Sarah had begun the daily evening clean. Jo was working in the farm shop at the time & has now, after 4 yrs with us, gone to run her own kitchen shop. She was inputting stock & supplier information. Lora (who’s now moved to the farm shop) & Lydia were cleaning the Playbarn. We are always aware of presenting ourselves well to our customers, but you can’t do that without a well-run back office, being well organised behind the scenes & without a great team of local, committed staff. We’re especially value the latter & value them very highly !