Traditional festive feasting
Along with Father Christmas and baby Jesus the turkey is often the star of the show at Christmas. A perfect way to feed lots of mouths, choosing a good quality turkey will really make your meal.
Hampshire has lots of options when it comes to buying your turkey locally. You can get yours from the farm gate, butchers and farm shops.
Cobley Wood Farm near Ringwood has Norfolk bronze turkeys available which arrived on the farm as day-old poults. They are free range and spend their days foraging in the vegetable garden and paddock which helps develop the quality of their flavour. The birds will be hand-plucked and hung for a week further adding to the taste of the bird.
At Ashford Farm near Petersfield they have been rearing 1,000 free-range bronze and white turkeys and 130 geese since June ready for Christmas. They arrive as day-old chicks and are slowly reared with access each day to fields. They can be seen perching on fences before retreating to the straw bales in the barn at bedtime. The birds are slaughtered on site at a minimum of 24 weeks which can be double the age of intensively reared birds.
Many Hampshire butchers and farm shops will also be sourcing their turkeys and Christmas meats from local farmers. And whether you opt for the farm or butcher route there is usually a glass of mulled wine or sherry and a natter involved when you collect your order. A wonderful way to kick off the festive season!
Shop for your Christmas meat at these local butchers and farms:
A Turner & Sons - www.alfturner.com
Blackwater Pork – www.blackwaterpork.co.uk
Broughton Water Buffalo - www.broughtonwaterbuffalo.co.uk
Buckwells of Southsea - www.buckwells.co.uk
Bushfied Farm Shop - www.facebook.com/bushfieldfarm1
CE Evans – www.ceevansandson.co.uk
Country Market – www.countrymarket.co.uk
Crow Farm Shop – www.crowfarmshop.co.uk
Farmers’ Choice – www.farmerschoice.co.uk
Harewood Forest Produce – www.harewoodforestproduce.co.uk
Hockeys Farm Shop - www.hockeys-farm.co.uk
Lisa’s Larder – www.lisalarder.com
LJ Smith - www.sausages4all.co.uk
Manydown Farm Shop - www.manydownfarmshop.co.uk
Mill Farm Organic - www.millfarmorganic.com
Newlyns Farm Shop - www.newlyns-farmshop.co.uk
Oaktrack Smallholding - www.oaktrack.co.uk
Owtons - www.owtons.com
Real Country Butchers - www.realcountrybutchers.com
Rosebourne – www.rosebourne.co.uk
Rother Valley Organics – www.rothervalleyorganics.co.uk
Solent Butchers – www.solentbutchers.co.uk
Stansted Park Farm Shop - www.stanstedfarmshop.com
Sunnyfields - www.sunnyfields.co.uk
Tatchbury Manor Farm - www.tatchburymanorfarm.co.uk
The Farm Shop, Leckford Estate – www.leckfordestate.co.uk
The Good Life Farm Shop - www.goodlifefarmshop.co.uk
Uptons of Bassett - www.uptonsbutchers.co.uk
Warrenfield Farm - https://www.facebook.com/warrenfieldfarm/
Wellington Farm Shop - www.wellington-farm-shop.co.uk