Damson Feast - 29th September 2007

The damson feast took place at the Crosthwaite village hall on Saturday 29th September. It featured an excellent menu prepared by top local chef Nick Martin, damsons being the main feature! We had entertainment from Sedbergh School Quartet and Fiona Hanley (as seen & heard at damson day 2007). We are now beginning planning or the 2008 Damson Day - watch this space

Great News for the British White Breed - Savin Hill obtains beef labeling accreditation

Late last year we decided to apply for accreditation under the voluntary beef labeling scheme. This is a scheme run by DEFRA.

'This scheme controls the voluntary labeling of operators at all levels of the supply chain from abattoir to retailer. All non-compulsory information about the origin of the beef, method of production or characteristics of beef, or the breed of animal from which it is derived, requires Government approval under the Beef Labeling Scheme'.

Our claims are that the beef we sell under the 'Savin Hill' name is British White and that it is a recognised traditional breed. These were the parameters to which we made our application.

'The Scheme requires operators to establish a traceability system and to employ a Government-recognised independent third party to verify information on our labels, our website and any literature we produce. Traceability is the key requirement of the Scheme'. Our verification body is PAI and they operate under European Standard EN/45011.

There is a cost to us as we must employ a verifier to check the non-compulsory claims that we make. We feel this is a good investment as it gives you the consumer, the confidence that you are buying 'Traditional British White Beef'.

Our approval number under this scheme is BLS(UK)E1876

We were really happy when we obtained the approval as was the British White Cattle Society. It hi-lights the importance of maintaining the breed.

As demand for British White Beef has increased through our markets we are now able to actively encourage breeders to increase their numbers knowing that they will have a financially viable animal to sell, all this bodes well for the future of the breed so keep eating British White Beef!

Nicholas is re-united with his sister Hefwan

A few weeks ago we decided to wean Hefwan from her mother (Harem) and put her in one of the small paddocks close to the farm yard with Nicholas. We carefully watched them as they were re-united again for the first time since they were born back in June last year. They were the best of friends in no time following the obligatory sniffing and gentle pushing deciding who was the boss. They have really settled in together now and are enjoying the wonderful weather we have been having. - picture to follow.

Saddleback Pigs arrive on the Farm

We took the decision, back in October 2006 to begin keeping a herd of Saddleback Pigs. One of the reasons behind this is so that we can produce our own dry cured bacon. We are hoping to produce the Saddleback range of products within the next few months. In the meantime why not try our dry cured bacon made using British pork, available at all the markets we attend and via our secure internet ordering service. See events or shopping pages for details.

The 'other' new twins.

The sets of twins are pictured below enjoying the September sunshine back in 2006 on our fields above The Row in the Valley.

Nicholas - sheltering from the rain

Harem and the newly named Hefwan   (apparently its Welsh for Summers    Beauty)

The twins arrived at approximately 6pm on the 16th June. Paul was still preparing the meat for the Westmorland Food Lovers Festival when our neighbour Nick alerted him to the proceedings in the paddock nearest to the farm yard.

Consequently Shaun and I rushed back to the farm to find that Harem (the calves mother) had one heifer with red points and a smaller bull with black points both of which were perfectly marked. However the bull was weaker due to the fact that she had not fed him. He was the smaller of the twins so we have begun bottle feeding him. Harem rejected him unfortunately so we have brought him inside until he is stronger and older. It does mean that he will get A1 treatment though as he is our new pet calf! We have decided to call him Nicholas.

Harem and the Hefwan the heifer calf are also both doing very well.

ITV Granada -

Grubs Up for Savin Hill Farm

Simon Rimmer came to see the British White Cattle back in September 2005. Simon and the film crew recorded several aspects of the farm for the Grubs Up programme - scheduled for transmission on 18th May 2006. I have to say the rump steak that Simon cooked was absolutely delicious.

ITV Border - Savin Hill Farm is featured on Annette Gibbons 'Home Grown'

Annette came to the farm to find out more about our Middle White Pigs. She is passionate about regional produce and was excited to meet our pedigree herd. The programme was filmed in two sections - a part when Annette visited us on the farm and a second part when we visit Annette at her home to sample some of the Middle White Belly Pork she had collected from us. Unfortunately we didn't make it to the tasting part as I managed to drive our van into a salt bin containing approx. 1 tone of salt. Anyway Shaun and I are fine so not to worry we just didn't get the opportunity to try out what Annette had done with the belly - I am sure it was delicious though.

ITV Border -

Savin Hill Farm is featured on 'Taste for the Road'

Savin Hill Farm was featured on the ITV Border series of 'Taste for the Road'. We were visited by celebrity chef, Ricky Andalcio back in May 2005. He featured in another Border TV programme called Raw Chefs earlier that year. Ricky is from London originally and moved to Cumbria 6 years ago. He had'nt had an opportunity to see our beautiful region or sample some of the finest local produce available. As part of the series, Ricky visited Savin Hill Farm and cooked the British White Sirloin steakson a BBQ. The series was aired on Border on Tuesday 2nd August 2005.

Visit from BBC Radio 4

Caz Graham and Mark Handscome came to spend a morning with us for the

'On Your Farm' programme. It was great to meet them and show them the pigs and cattle and to tell them about why we farm the particular breeds we keep and how we farm them.

The programme will be aired 28th September 2005 at 6.20am. If you don't want to get up for it then you can use the listen again facility on the BBC's website. Caz and Mark spent sometime on the farm with Shaun before coming to see me in the produce area. We all enjoyed a breakfast of fresh Wellsummer eggs, Middle White Pork Sausages and fresh tomatoes.

Shaun and myself are pictured opposite with Caz.

Manchester Farmers Market - Twice a month

The farmers market was represented by Tim Ross and myself at the Manchester Restaurant and Bar show this week (12th & 13th April). We displayed a range of produce available on the market and distributed leaflets and information about the twice monthly event and its producers.  The event coincided rather well with the launch of the new market dates twice a month, we will now be on Piccadilly Gardens on the 4th Friday and Saturday as well as the 2nd. The feed back during the GMEX show was very positive and I, along with the other producers are looking forward to seeing those people we met paying us a visit on the market.

So make it a date... See you there.

The Middle White Pig Trust - Oliver's new home

4th March - one of our young Rajah boars (named Oliver De Havilland) took to the road heading for his new home on the Isle of Islay.  He has been purchased by the Middle White Pig Trust. The trust has been set up at Dunlossit Estate on the Isle to safeguard a Middle White pig population which will; spread information about traditional pigs at every possible opportunity; create new roles for the unsubsidised pig in today's agri-environmental industry in addition to the commercial one; create a conservation breeding unit for Middle White pigs to maintain their genetic variation. The latter being the area where we hope Oliver will be of most assistance!

You can find out more about the trust and the role of traditional pigs on the Isle of Islay from Chloe at Dunlossit Estate. Email - chloe@dunlossitestate.co.uk

October 2004 once again saw Savin Hill Farm as winners of the the Manchester Food and Drink festival Producer of the Year for our Middle White Valentine Steaks. Jimmy Doherty (Jimmy's Farm) was one of this years judges at the blind tasting of regional produce. It was part of 14 days of food and drink events throughout the city of Manchester culminating in the Gala dinner on 11th October where we received our award for the 2nd year running. Savin Hill Farm produce was not only available to purchase from our stall on St Anne's Square but Chef of the Year Robert Owen Brown, of The Bridge, Manchester, used British White Braising Steak in the festival restaurant on the square. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall also used Savin Hill Braising Steak and Middle White Belly Pork during his evening at the Bridgewater Hall.