Dutton Gregory is delighted to be working with CPRE Hampshire again this year – sponsoring the Rural Enterprise category of the Countryside Awards.
From an impressive number of applications, a short list has been drawn up to find the eventual winner and a judging panel consisting of representatives from Dutton Gregory and CPRE are in the midst of visiting each applicant.
Over the course of the next week or so we will introduce you to the finalists so you can see the difficulty we will have over choosing an eventual winner!
Our first shortlisted entrant is:
Hockey’s, South Gorley, Fordingbridge. (farm shop and café)
What a great friendly welcome you will receive when visiting Hockey’s farm shop and café. The business is family owned and literally everyone in the family has a role to play.
Hockey’s is proud to support and promote local produce from local beef and dairy farmers, through to fruit and vegetable growers, bakers and bee keepers!
The on-site butcher makes all his own sausages, mince and burgers from beef supplied by the local farmer and pigs reared on Hockey’s own land.
Children are encouraged to pet the pigs, meet the chickens, guinea fowl and ducks and as from this week, the newly arrived donkeys. There’s an aviary that surrounds you if you decide to take your tea or coffee al fresco or if not you can sit in the tranquil surroundings of Hockey’s café (soon to be refurbished).
Hockey’s does all it can to recycle, bones and excess meat from carcasses are transported away and turned into energy, there are bottle banks on site and cardboard is recycled. Fruit and vegetables are placed on compost heaps, which in turn are used to fertilise the vegetables growing in Hockey’s own poly tunnels.
Going the extra mile, Hockey’s rent out bicycles so that you can see the Forest at a slower pace and enjoy everything as nature intended!
My only recommendation when visiting Hockey’s is to leave enough time so that you can enjoy everything they have to offer – they are passionate about what they do and would love to chat with you about it.
Hockey’s can be found at South Gorley, Fordingbridge, SP6 2PW.
