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Decorating December…͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Decorating December…The festive season is upon us and in many ways it is a much needed distraction from the dark winter days. In our news we share the behind the scenes of the ‘Flower girls’ team with their Christmas installations in some of Dorking’s eateries. ‘Meet the local producer’ is the very busy Queen of preserves, Debbie. We share some lovely gift ideas we have to offer in the Farm and Flower Shop and let’s not forget the little Kingfishers with our Christmas ‘Kingfisher Kids’ competition! Reminder: Orders for Christmas close on Wednesday 7th December, so get ordering over the weekend to make it in time! Read on for more festive reminders. For all who love sending a festive card, we are selling ‘Our Time’ charity Christmas cards this year. All designed by artists on the programme at HMP Send delivered by Watts Gallery Trust and funded by the Michael Varah Memorial Fund. All the profits from the sales go back into the programme, which has been funded by the Michael Varah Memorial Fund (MVMF) since 2009 and whose aim is help rehabilitate prisoners. So without further ado, please enjoy our 30th Monthly Post and a very Happy Christmas to you all. Xxx
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Don’t Forget!Wednesday 7th December - Our deadline for all Christmas week orders (Delivery or Collection 22-24th December)
Saturday 17th December - The last day you can make additions to your Christmas week orders.
6pm on Saturday 17th December - Weds 4th January (inclusive) - The Online Shop will be closed.
Wednesday 4th January - Normal hours resume at the Farm & Flower Shop. Please see the final page of our ‘Christmas at Kingfisher Guide’ for our full festive opening times.
Christmas trees are here! Best to come and choose ‘the one’ before 4pm whilst it is still light! We have lots of beautiful baubles & gifts inside the flower shop too!
Hampers and wreaths are available to order online until Saturday 17th December (inclusive).
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Tis’ the season… for fresh produce!
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Seasonal Highlights… Festive Floral Blooms… Amaryllis Scilly Isles Narcissi English Tulips in time for Christmas Winterberry Holly, Bay leaf & Ivy (for your Christmas décor) Christmas Trees of course!
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Gift ideas from our creatives…
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Seasonal Hand Tie - A Subscription Husbands and partners please take note… We are fairly confident that this would be most women’s dream gift to receive! A bouquet of beautiful fresh flowers brought to your door weekly or monthly, heaven! Weekly - From £30/week 3 Months - From £15/month 6 Months - From £30/month 12 Months - From £30/month
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Festive Falcon Enamel Ever stylish Falcon Enamelware have a new range of colours perfect for the Festive season. Available from inside The Flower Shop. Burgundy: Jugs (£36) and tumblers (£8) Samphire Green: Small tumblers (£7) Pillarbox Red: Small tumblers (£7)
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A Selection of Hampers A Little Foodie Hug - £25.00 Three Cheers for Surrey Beers - £30.00 Gluten Free Goodies - £35.00 Brilliant British Cheese - from £40.00 Brilliant British Wine - £65.00 An Italian Feast - £88.00
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With the festive period nearly upon us, the Farm Shop shelves are filled with plenty of chutneys, marmalades and preserves. They are such a popular purchase at this time of year, with many jars being gifted or put in the cupboard in preparation for feasting over the Christmas period. Many of these jars will be lovingly made by Debbie of Debbie’s Preserves, from Capel, Surrey. Debbie is always busy in her kitchen, however she did find time to tell us a little bit about her business for us to share with you. |
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“I started my business more than 20 years ago on a small basis selling my preserves at local school fairs and village fetes. I now supply 8 small retail outlets in the Dorking area. It came about as I am married to a horticulturalist who provided me with an abundance of produce from our garden. |
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Since moving to Newdigate we have been able to increase the production of our crops. We now have a small orchard of apples, pears, plums, quinces, greengages, damsons, medlars and crab apples. A large fruit cage in the garden, is filled with a variety of soft fruits. Two greenhouses give us tomatoes and chillies, alongside a substantial vegetable patch. Additional produce is sourced locally from the orchard at Etherley Farm, Leith Hill. |
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I make all the preserves at home in my kitchen. My only additional help being from my daughter. |
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My preserves have no additives or preservatives. The natural pectin in the fruits set the jams and marmalades. My wide range of preserves reflects the changing seasons. January is marmalade making time. The bitter Seville oranges providing a short season to make that golden preserve that makes a British breakfast so good. Early spring rhubarb begins the jam making season. Summer brings all the soft fruit for jams. Fragrant roses add a special twist to my Strawberry & Rose jam. The abundant Autumn harvest heralds chutney making time. |
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Delicious rich preserves maturing for the festive season. Boxing Day chutney is a must for the cold cuts of Christmas turkey and ham. Piccalilli made from our home grown vegetables is popular through out the year. Preserves seem to be a favourite in the festive season, so I make Christmas jam with plums, cranberries, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves and Christmas marmalade with figs ginger and sultanas. My cranberry jelly is made using our crab apples. |
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Sustainability is important to me using home grown and local produce. I buy my jars and lids from a small family business and make my own labels. I very much encourage customers to return their empty jars, for me to sterilise and reuse. |
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As a small business I can produce high quality, hand made preserves with a personal touch.” What an impressive and productive garden and kitchen! We hope you enjoy some of Debbie’s delicious preserves, marmalades and chutneys this Christmas! Thank you Debbie. |
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Making Magic Happen…The scent of pine, moss, cinnamon sticks and cones fill the air in the polytunnel at this time of year. Preparations for Christmas start in November for the Flower girls, not only for the many wreaths to be made but also to bedeck a number of eateries in Dorking. Each has its own identity and this is to be recognised, whilst also keeping true to our own Kingfisher style. The ‘Flower girl’ team put in an incredible amount of hours creating festive decorations from natural and seasonal materials for Sorrels fine dining, Two many Cooks Coffee Shop, and The Queens Head and Running Horses public houses. Floristry definitely demands a certain amount of ambidexterity, strength and balance, whilst up a ladder hanging trees, silver birch chains, garlands and even a number of mirror balls this year! We hope you enjoy the Christmas decor, if you find yourselves having a festive treat in any one of these. As December arrives the flower girls pack up the ladders and head back to Abinger. The focus is on all things floral for the remaining weeks running up to Christmas. Netty fills the little electric van, not only with fruit and veg, but with a bounty of wreaths, table arrangements and gorgeous bouquets to adorn your homes…..have you ordered yours yet?!!
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Cornish Charcuterie Wild Boar & Venison Rillette…Just in time for the festivities we have two new offerings from our favourite Charcuterie… Slow cooked venison is accompanied by sweet vermouth to create the perfect Venison Rillette. Rich and decedent, slow cooked wild boar is beautifully combined with capers, apricots and mustard… delicious!
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Albury Estate Sparkling Pinot Noir…We love this new sparkling wine from our local vineyard in Albury. A fabulous alternative for Christmas day, this bottle combines a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Précoce, a variety of Pinot Noir that ripens early. Deep pink in colour, it is abundantly aromatic with strawberry and dark fruit notes. Lively, fresh and fruity with a crisp, long finish.
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