Meat boxes available direct from National Trust herds and tenant farms:
Fresh, local and seasonal meat, reared using sustainable methods – what better way to support our Food Glorious Food fresh food revolution?
Our conservation grazing herds and tenant farmers produce tasty and nutritious meat while caring about wildlife and habitats, respecting the land and using natural resources responsibly.
From prime lamb, venison, pork, poultry and beef cuts to sausages, burgers and mince, there's a wide range available, all Freedom Food Accredited by the RSPCA.
While some cuts are available fresh for the oven, others are prepared to go straight to your freezer.
Find your nearest producer in:
© Maurice Flynn
Gloucestershire:
The Ebworth Centre
The National Trust, The Camp, near Stroud, Gloucestershire. GL6 7ES
Tel: 01452 810058
Email: cotswolds.grazing@nationaltrust.org.uk
- Matt Stanway looks after the National Trust’s Fine Farm Produce Award winning herds of Belted Galloways and Welsh Blacks, moving them between twenty Cotswold sites such as Rodborough and Minchinhampton Commons, Coaley Peak and Haresfield Beacon. The herd feeds on herb-rich grasslands, while providing conservation grazing which encourages wildflowers, butterflies and birds on sites which are difficult to manage any other way.
A limited amount of beef is available each autumn, vacuum packed and freezer-ready for collection from the Ebworth Centre. The meat is hung for at least three weeks and prepared by an award winning butcher less than five miles away.
Meat boxes including mince and selected cuts are available in (£80) 10kg, (£120) 15kg, (£160) 20kg sizes.
Conygree Farm
Aldsworth, near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL54 3PW
Tel: 01451 844342 / 07886 305508
Email:jonathan@conygreefarm.co.uk
- Jonathan Brunyee offers rare breed Cotswold lamb and mutton and free range Gloucestershire Old Spot pork. All his animals are reared to the highest welfare and environmental standards, grazing extensively on the species rich limestone grassland at Conygree Farm, the foreground to Lodge Park. The farm is also involved in some exciting farmland bird conservation work, has begun organic conversion and is carbon neutral.
A range of fresh or frozen meat boxes is available including: 3kg box of mutton (£29); 7kg box of pork (£64); 7kg BBQ box of lamb (£64) and a 8kg half lamb box (£74).
Lamb boxes include whole legs, half shoulders, racks, chops, cutlets, leg steaks, minty ribs, lamb burgers, mutton mince and cubes. Pork boxes include leg joints, collar joints, belly, chops and sausages. Other cuts, individual joints, whole pigs/lambs (for spit roasts) and boxes are available by request.
Delivery can be arranged nationwide (your order is transported in a specially chilled wool-insulated box) but is free within the GL54 post code. Alternatively you can visit the farm to collect it yourself and enjoy a tour to see Jonathan's animals and his conservation work (by appointment).
Overtown Farm
Cranham near Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL4 8HQ
Tel: 01452 864 723
Email: overtownfarm@tiscali.co.uk
- Martin and Pauhla Whitaker offer beef and lamb reared organically on their Cotswold farm, which is licensed as organic through the Soil Association and also Farm Assured through its SAFA scheme.The Whitaker family has farmed this site, set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, for over 50 years.
Organic beef boxes contain mixed cuts, and start from £50 upwards (£8.50 per kg). Whole organic lambs are available to order for spit roasts (approx £130), otherwise available in a range of cuts as a quarter of lamb (from £35) or half a lamb (from £65).
All orders are vac packed, boxed and frozen (unless ordered fresh).
Beef cuts include a selection of prime and slow roast joints; sirloin, fillet and rump steak; packs of diced and minced beef and braising steak. Lamb cuts range from half leg, half shoulder and chops to kidney or boned-out breast. Whole shoulders and legs are also available to order. Lamb is available September to March, with some cuts available frozen at other times. Frozen beef is available all year round, or fresh if ordered in advance.
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Bristol area:
The Story Group
Court Farm & Herons Green Farm
The Chew Valley, Bristol, North Somerset, BS40 8EU
Tel: 01275 333372
Email: luke@thestorygroup.co.uk
- School friends James Twine and Luke Hasell run Court Farm and Herons Green Farm in the Chew Valley. They share a passion for producing quality organic beef. Court Farm hasn’t seen any pesticides for four decades and Herons Green Farm has been organic since 2003. Their South Devon and Aberdeen Angus cattle roam lush pastures grazing on organic rich clover and one of Jim’s herds was introduced to graze Leigh Woods in Bristol in September 2009.
The beef is hung for three weeks, so it produces great tasting tender meat.
A selection of beef boxes is available. The 5kg Short Story Box (£50); perfect for smaller households and freezers. The 10kg Long Story Box (£100), which is excellent value typically saving around 20% if you bought the same cuts individually. The 5kg Easy Cook Story Box for those who like the easy life and fillet steak! And the 8.5kg Winter Warmer Story Box, which is ideal for casseroles, stewing and slow roasting.
Orders can be placed online where you can also find recipes and more information about the farms and farmers.
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Somerset:
Hindon Organic Farm
Nr Selworthy, Minehead, Exmoor, Somerset TA24 8SH
Tel: 01643 705244
Email: info@hindonfarm.co.uk
- Exmoor organic meats from the moor to your door. Hindon Organic Farm only sells what it farms, from animals suitable for their type of hill farm. The farm is licensed by the Soil Association to the highest organic standards. Its produce has won many awards including National Organic Producer of the Year 2003.
The farm's product range includes organic Aberdeen Angus well hung beef, organic hill farm lamb, free range Gloucester Old Spot pig, home cured ham, dry cured bacon, and home-made sausages (flavours include country pork, pork and leek, lamb and coriander, pork and whortleberry, and the Exmoor Beast, which is pork and a touch of chilli).
Produce is available from the onsite farm shop. Please phone for orders to collect or have delivered by nationwide mail order. Or visit the local farmers' market, every Friday 8.30am to 2.30pm in marquees in The Parade at Minehead.
Woodcock Ley Farm
Porlock, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 8LX
Tel: 01643 862502
Email: simonmdavid@googlemail.com
or Traceyanndavid@googlemail.com
- Tracey and Simon David keep their herd of Red Ruby Devon cattle and Exmoor Horn ewes on the Holnicote Estate. Grazing on land running up to Dunkery Beacon, the herds enjoy athlete-like leanness being reared at between 850ft and 1300ft above sea level.
Simon is an award-winning master butcher with 25 years experience, and the couple are in the process of setting up at their own butchery on the farm.
Meat boxes are available, but while they’re still in development Tracey and Simon are happy to take your call and casually talk you through what they can offer.
Wiltshire:
© NTPL/David Levenson
Stourhead Farm
High Street, Stourton, Wiltshire, BA12 6QF
Tel: 01985 844029
Email: orders@stourhead-farm-shop.co.uk
- Farmer Steve Harris has won several awards for his meat, traditionally reared on the world famous Stourhead estate, including the National Trust’s Fine Farm Produce Award in 2008 and 2009.
Beef, lamb, pork and cured hams are available delivered to your door in fleece-lined boxes.
The farm holds regular open days where visitors can tour the farm and see sausages being freshly made.
Customers can choose their own cuts, or a selection of standard meat boxes is available: Small Beef box (£59) minimum weight 6.5kg; Cook’s Box (£69) minimum weight 10kg and Large Beef Box (£112.00) minimum weight 13kg. Cuts include rump, Sirloin and stewing steak; beef & ale sausages; beef burgers; topside, silverside or pot roasting joint; oxtail and lean mince.
Half Lamb Box (£71) Whole leg, rack which can be cut at home into chops, loin chops, shoulder joint, chump steaks and rolled breast.
Pork Box (£81 green bacon or £83 smoked), minimum weight 8.5kg including spare rib joint, leg joint, chops, diced pork, sausages, back bacon, streaky bacon and gammon joint.
Grill Box (£59) minimum weight 7kg, including Lamb & mint burgers, lamb chops, pork sausage, pork & leak sausages, pork chipolatas; beef & ale sausage, minute steaks, beef burgers.
Mixed Box (£99) minimum weight 10.5kg, including topside joint, rump steaks, lean mince, beef & ale sausages, leg of lamb, lamb chops, pork & leak sausage, pork spare rib joint.
Order via email, over the phone or online at:
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Dorset:
© Maurice Flynn
Beef from the Heath
The National Trust, Purbeck Estate Office, Studland, Dorset BH19 3AX
Tel: 07917 455 370
Email: Lisa.hawthornthwaite@nationaltrust.org.uk
- Enjoy a taste of the happy consequence of our conservation grazing project on Purbeck. The National Trust’s cowgirl Lisa Hawthornthwaite moves a herd of Ruby Red Devon cattle around our two national nature reserves protecting the indigenous heathlands.
Purbeck has more plant species in a 10km stretch than any other area of the UK. Feeding on the herb-rich heathlands helps our cattle and wild venison create great tasting meet while also stopping the heath being over-taken by more mundane and invasive species.
Beef from the Heath meat boxes are available in 5kg (£45) or 10kg (£80) sizes, featuring a range of assorted cuts including rump steak, fillet steak, sirloin steak, rolled rib, silverside joints, slow roasts, mince and diced beef.
Wild Venison meat boxes are available in 5kg (£45) or 10kg (£80) sizes, including a selection of roasting joints, steaks, sausages, medallions and diced venison. Both can be collected fresh on the day, or frozen for collection later. Collection dates and times from Studland will be agreed when you place your order.
Downhouse Farm
Higher Eype, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 6AH
Tel: 01308 421232
Email: nikki@downhouse-farm.co.uk
or dean@downhouse-farm.co.uk
- Since 1991, Nikki and Dean Exton, along with their children, have been looking after 500 acres of organic farmland on the Golden Cap estate, overlooking Lyme Bay and Portland.
They produce free-range pork and bacon, lamb and beef from animals reared to high organic standards set by the Soil Association and brought to maturity on the coastal pastures enriched with wild flowers and herb.
Their Welsh Badger Face lamb costs around £6.50 per kg, their Aberdeen Angus beef costs around £9.25 per kg, and their Oxford Sandy and Black pork costs around £8 per kg.
All cuts are produced on-site by the farm’s skilled butcher, so meat boxes can include any cuts you’d like and be specifically created to fulfil any order. Call or email Nikki or Dean for a friendly update on what’s in season and tasting great, or look out for the family stall at Bridport’s West Dorset Country Market on Saturday mornings.
Tamarisk Farm
West Bexington, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 9DF
Tel: 01308 897 781
Email: farm@tamariskfarm.co.uk
- Adam and Ellen Simon graze their Dorset Down Cross sheep and Fine Farm Produce Award-winning Ruby Red Devon cattle on the sun-drenched slopes behind Cheshil Beach in Lyme Bay.
The site has been farmed organically by the family since the 1960s, starting then with the organic market garden and evolving to the present form. The market garden is now about 6 acres of fruit and vegetable in the centre of the village.
Ellen and Adam don’t have a routine meat box scheme, but happily put together frozen boxes for customers from the range of mutton, lamb and beef cuts they prepare, including sausages and burgers. If you’re keen to have a box of freshly cut meat too, then email or call the couple and as stocks are prepared they can happily let you know.
Wilkswood Farm
Valley Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 3DU
Tel: 01929 427 970 (between 7am-5pm Thur & Fri or 7am-1pm Sat).
Email: ploudoun@hotmail.com
- Paul Loudoun’s Wilkswood Farm specialises in conservation grazing, with his animals feeding on non-sprayed land across Purbeck and beyond.
The meat is then traditionally butchered on-site and sold fresh from the farmshop. In addition to their lamb and beef; they provide pork, turkey and Fine Farm Award winning venison. A range of cuts is available, from steaks and roasting joints to sausages, burgers and the farm’s own faggots.
Meat boxes can be tailor made. Let Paul or his team know the price you want to spend and whether you’re after meat for casseroles, roasts, BBQs or a fine steak dinner, and his team can prepare cuts and boxes to suit your order.
Orders can be collected fresh or frozen from the Wilkswood Farm Shop, dates and times can be confirmed when you order.
National Trust tenant farms and estates also provide fishing and accommodation:
Fishing: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fishing
- We've some exceptional stretches of river or lakes in outstandingly beautiful parts of the country. The list of fisheries organised by region gives Ordnance Survey grid references, describes the type of fishing available, the permits on offer and gives contact details.
Bed & Breakfast: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bed_breakfast
- More than 80 of our farm tenants offer bed and breakfast accommodation in beautiful areas of countryside that we protect.
Camping & Caravanning: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/camping
- There are lots of opportunities for people to camp on or to bring their caravans to many of our sites throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Freedom Food Accredited
Freedom Food is a farm assurance and food labelling scheme set up by the RSPCA in 1994 to improve farm animal welfare and to address growing consumer demand for higher welfare produce.
The Freedom Food label enables shoppers to recognise higher welfare products - products that come from animals reared on farms inspected to strict RSPCA welfare standards, with assured traceability from farm to fork. (More information available at RSPCA.org.uk)
National Trust Fine Farm Awards
The Fine Farm Produce Awards have been running since 2005. They’re designed to recognise high environmental and animal welfare standards, high quality production methods and great tasting food and drink.
There are three criteria that need to be met before producers can receive the Fine Farm Produce Award:
- Each National Trust tenant farm, National Trust managed farm or farmland will be assessed against National Trust Environment Standards for Farms by National Trust staff.
- All livestock and dairy products must be certified organic or Freedom Food (RSPCA) assured. For arable producers they must have organic certification, the LEAF marque or Conservation Grade. Other industry standards will also apply to different types of food.
- Food and drink products are then subject to a taste panel where the key criteria are appearance, aroma, texture and flavour.
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