As farms go, this one near Lichfield in Staffordshire has something special going for it.
Curborough Hall Farm is still a working farm, with all the normal trappings.
But it also plays host to a countryside centre with around 30 businesses of various types which offer visitors a unique mix of activities, shopping and services.

Some of the units at Curborough Countryside Centre
All the businesses are situated within old barns and farm buildings which have been converted for the purpose, and that helps to give Curborough Countryside Centre something of a special feel.
The shops and other places of interest are found in a variety of places on the site, some in courtyard settings, others up stairs or down corridors, so visitors are advised to open all available doors to see what lies behind.

One of the artist studios on the site
Curborough has been home to traditional crafts-people almost from the beginning of the units being opened and, today, visitors can explore the workshops of traditional furniture restoration and stonemasonry.
The site has several original artists who can be seen at work in their studios, such as the Eden Gallery, while there are also a number of retail units occupied by the creative industries, from glass artists and a knitting shop through to photographers and even a piano service.

The units have been converted out of old barns and farm buildings
Within the on-site Hexagon centre visitors will find a hair and beauty area, with both floors providing a home to salons and treatment areas ranging from beauty therapy and laser hair removal to a chiropody service. It also has its own courtyard where visitors can sit and wait in comfort and style.
The in-house Curborough Hall Antiques Centre also has something to suit most people's individual style.

Take time out from browsing to relax
The countryside centre wouldn't be complete without refreshments, and food is available either from the Curborough Hall Farm Shop (yourfarmshop@aol.com, 01543 418599) or from Mabels tearoom (01543 264050, mabels@curboroughcountrysidecentre.co.uk)
The farm shop stocks fresh fruit, vegetables and salad all year round while a deli counter has a selection of cheeses, olives, hand-made porkpies, freshly cut ham, locally sourced milk, eggs, bread, honey and ice cream.

Put your feet up and have a cuppa at the tearoom
Mabels boasts locally sourced, home made produce and is known for its large range of cakes and tray-bakes which can be eaten in or taken away.
Among the other attractions on site are The Falconry & Hawking Centre which houses more than 30 species of birds of prey and offers falconry displays and experiences (01543 251487, enquiries@falconryandhawkingcentre.co.uk)
And there is also a fishery situated to the right of the garden centre with four different pools set within 10 acres (O7890 333227/07415 859271, info@curboroughfishery.com)
Curborough Countryside Centre is open from 10am - 4pm Tuesday to Sunday, plus Bank Holiday Mondays. Parking is free.