THE rural parish of Martley is home to a general village store, a local garage, a free house, a honey farmer and one of the biggest logistics companies in the UK.

TM Logistics, known locally as Taylors of Martley, is one of the best known independent businesses in Worcestershire. But it is not the only independent firm in Martley, which boasts a beautiful Norman church and population of just 1,200.

The Central Stores, run by husband and wife Helen and Richard Gosling, is a lifeline for many residents, while the Admiral Rodney is the busy free house in nearby Berrows Green.

Des and Karen Campbell took the pub on 18 months ago and are doing their best to support fellow local companies.

“All our produce is fresh and local and all our beer comes from within a 30 miles radius of the pub,” said Mr Campbell.

“We offer a good menu and we’ve got a good reputation for food.

“It’’s been a struggle, but with the weather picking up people are coming out. We just need them to remember we're here 12 months a year.”

The pub even uses Berrow Honey, which is made just around the corner at Berrow Farm.

There are more than 100 colonies of old British black bee on the farm and, by popular demand, the family produce a range of honey-based products – from honey mustard, lemon and lime flavoured honey to honey walnuts.

The surplus wax is used to make traditional polish and candles.

Three miles down the road is the Clifton on Teme General Stores, run by Beverley and Peter Richards.

Mrs Richards is a staunch supporter of our Buy Local campaign. She said: “We've been here 10 years, but the shop has been here a hundred-odd years.

“We’ve got a lovely community around here and local people are very supportive of us. I know that they want to see us do well.

“We’re never going to compete with the big supermarkets, but if we can offer certain items at bargain prices then it keeps the locals coming in.

“It hasn’t been easy because we lost the post office. It would be a real blow if we lost the store, especially with the demise of rural pubs, which is why we have to keep it going.”

  • Don’t miss your Worcester News on Saturday for a 16-page pull-out Buy Local guide.

All your suggestions and many local traders highlighted in our campaign will be featured, with the invitation to give the major supermarkets a miss on Independents’ Day.