regrettable part of the whole process , they had to make four people redundant .

This has made Thirsk a much more profitable unit and allowed them time to really develop the site . Even though they don ’ t have as large a space at Thirsk , the business is positively thriving . They have invested in a laser tag machine which is housed upstairs on the mezzanine . This has been a big investment but has paid off very well . Farmers can literally turn up and get what tags they need when they need them , whereas if they order online it can take up to 5 days and as we know , when a farmer wants something , generally they want it now ! Also , they can buy from Green ’ s in whatever quantity they want .

Another new addition to the store is Mrs Pumphrey ’ s Farm Shop ( named after the character in “ All Creatures Great and Small ”). This has become hugely popular . They stock fresh local meat and veg and produce , all sourced from local and / or Yorkshire suppliers , including sausages from Masham , sausages from Melmerby ,

bread from Clarkes of Easingwold and Bothams of Whitby , rapeseed oil from Wharfe Valley Rapeseed of Wetherby , to name but a few of many .

Lockdown has been a challenge for many , however , farm shops have seen a big surge in custom as people prefer to shop locally , but more than that , appreciate the quality of non-mass-produced food and how much better it cooks and tastes . Mrs Pumphrey ’ s has been , and continues to be really busy , and at the height of Lockdown they were selling 2 tonnes of compost a day ! It was almost reminiscent of the war years and the grow your own programme . The store also supplies wood , coal and kindling and they even now have an in-situ dog grooming parlour .

Chris and Kate really enjoy the business and have a dedicated team around them . They really can deliver the very best produce , agricultural supplies and service . They have always held the prestigious Suitably Qualified Person ( SQP ) status . This is a legal category

of professionally qualified people who , under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations , are entitled to prescribe and / or supply certain veterinary medicines ( POM-VPS and NFA-VPS ) for companion animals , equines , farm animals and birds .

So , it is no surprise to learn that Green ’ s Farm Supplies Ltd are the winners of the National SQP Awards 2020 Independent Store of the Year , this is for the second time no less ! The National SQP Awards are staged annually by OvertheCounter magazine and Lewis Business Media to recognise excellence and best practice in the animal health and welfare industry .

On the back of the success of Green ’ s , Chris has been able to fulfil his other great ambition , to own his own farm - stemming from his childhood memories with cattle crops and chickens on the family farm . In 2015 , Chris and Kate were able to buy Spring View Farm which , although you wouldn ’ t think so as Chris and I walked around it , is in fact a small holding . When they took it on , it was completely run down , with a ramshackle farmhouse , broken fences and sheds dropping to bits . In short , there was no part of the farm that didn ’ t need attention . Given

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