Farm Shop
Demand is high for the sausages from Wimpole Home Farm’s rare breed pigs. Farm manager David Watson acknowledges that as a National Trust model farm, it has a high profile as it is open to the public. With plenty of visitors throughout the year, once educated by seeing the high standards of animal welfare they’re always keen to try the meat.
Even without the public, David believes that animal welfare is important, and leads to good quality meat which is why their farm is Freedom Food approved. As well as the high standards of animal welfare, the farm also practises environmental and land conservation. Large areas of the Wimpole Estate parkland are now in the Countryside Stewardship Scheme or have been designated areas of Special Scientific Interest. Thus inorganic fertilisers and pesticides are never used, animals are free-range but kept in managed pastures and the farm is home to a wide variety of rare breeds.
Amongst the cattle are Longhorn, Gloucester, Irish Moiled, White Park and Shetland varieties, there are ten varieties of rare breed sheep, along with Bagot goats, bantams and chickens. The trademark meaty sausages come from Gloucestershire Old Spots, Tamworths and Berkshire pigs and are made with the best cuts of pork, a light seasoning and no additional flavouring. On sale at the estate shop, they’re also the best-selling dish in the Old Rectory Restaurant. David also distributes to other National Trust properties in the East of England, helping stock their restaurants and cafés with meat from his farm.
