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Take time to enjoy summers offerings…This month there is an abundance of colour with the much loved (definitely by us!) Dahlias and Sunflowers, Rainbow chard, and stone fruit, including the plum. Last year we were able to offer some truly delicious varieties of English plum. Lets hope this years harvest doesn’t disappoint! Watercress is often centre of attention for us, for obvious reasons, but it is great when others show enthusiasm for our homegrown superfood too. Wessex Distillery have made a Kingfisher Watercress Gin, how exciting is that?! A London Dry with a subtle peppery note, looks very beautiful in its bright green bottle. The Fine Pie House have also made some delicious watercress pairings. You can now find Watercress and Norbury Blue Quiche and a Watercress Homity pie in our chilled section. Last but by no means least, Kingfisher Watercress sausages are back! These are made by the superb sausage makers, A R Baileys Butcher from Warnham. August often provides an opportunity to take things a little slower, so why not pour yourself that gin & tonic, sit down and read a little more of our news!
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Ideal for alfresco dining…
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For your Summer spread… Cucumbers Lettuce & Salad Leaves Beetroot Courgettes English Sweetcorn Calabrese British Berries Plums
Familiar blooms in August… Sunflowers Dahlias Hydrangeas Lavender
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Plenty for you to choose from…Our very own superfood, watercress, is at the heart of our business and we grow it here almost all year round. Naturally, we have a multitude of recipes at our fingertips which have been tried & tested by our team. We also have plenty of seasonal dishes for you to choose from. Yes, it is possible for us to prepare a meal that doesn’t include watercress!
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Meet Gray’s Gelato…We got chatting to Katherine at Gray’s Gelato on Polesden Lacey Estate, Surrey. This is a wonderful insight into a dairy farming family business in the Surrey Hills…….
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Since 1928, Goldstone Farm, a 240 acre farm has been home to the Gray family, Now the third generation are at the helm. Rob Gray has milked Ayrshire cows all his life, as in the footsteps of his father, John Gray. John registered his first Ayrshire at Goldstone in 1943, at the young age of 13! We have a herd of 120 milking Ayrshire cows plus all the associated young stock. They are all home bred and are pure bred Ayrshires (some farmers are breeding red and white Holstein in to the breed to increase productivity). We run a closed herd which means we do not buy replacements but breed all our own cows. |
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All the cows have family names which are passed on from dame to daughter, such as Mabel, Flo, Flop, Tarter, Bridget, Imp. All can be traced back to cows bought by Rob's dad! That is where our name for our vanilla gelato came from, Bessie's Best. Bessie was Rob's favourite cow. She had 17 calves and was a record milk producer, 93 tonnes of milk, no less. A cantankerous character to the end. She is immortalised in our logo and our 'vanilla milk’ flavour! As for Rob’s sibblings, Rob's older brother, James is the tenant of the National Trust and is in charge of the arable side of the farm and Rob's older sister, Margs, still milks on the farm. Goldstone Farm is one of the last family run farms surrounding the capital and that is so important to us, as a small family and to continue maintaining a working countryside for everyone to experience and enjoy. |
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Diversification is very much a way forward for so many in farming and it has been embraced by the Gray family. For years, Rob has wanted to 'do' something with the creamy, light milk that the brown and white Ayrshire cows produce. The Ayreshire milk has a distinctive taste. Originally Rob wanted to pasteurise the milk and sell in bottles. I thought this was quite boring! Most people just buy their milk from the supermarket. Logisitcally I couldn't quite see how I was going to co-ordinate the process and delivery with such a short shelf-life product. The next best thing was ice-cream! However Rob wanted the product to reflect the quality of the milk, rather than lots of ingredients. I approached some ice cream maker manufacturers and it was suggested that we should be making gelato |
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This seemed the perfect answer, as gelato has a higher proportion of milk than ice cream. Once we had taken some of our milk to their test kitchen and made some gelato, we realised this was definitely the way to go! But this was just the start……we finally managed to achieve a Defra grant towards the machines and away we went! The gelato is made in small batches, adding ingredients and filling the tubs by hand. When it comes to choosing and creating flavours…. the traditional ones are always popular. Other than that, I get inspiration from all around, cooking programmes, chocolate boxes etc! |
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Our flavourings are from flavour houses who are also small batch and use real ingredients, real strawberries, real cocoa, real mint etc. to make sure anything added to the milk is equal in quality. Rob is very proud of the quality of the milk and our product should be as good as that! Our signature flavour is our version of vanilla - Bessie's best! We find that if we do 'too much' to the product, this moves away from the quality of the product, so simple is the most effective! |
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We mainly supply to farm shops but are very happy to supply to anyone who wants our product, who appreciates quality and our premium gelato. Kingfisher is a local farm shop where I thought our premium product would suit. I approached them quite early on, once we had started the business and we are still supplying them! But the connection between Kingfisher and the Gray family go back to the 1950’s. John (Rob’s dad) and Barrie went to Dorking Young Farmers and had ties with the association for many years. Back then it was Surrey’s dating agency! It was where Barrie and Margaret met and where John and Evelyn met too. Happy days! |
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With regards to the hot topic of sustainability and environmental awareness within a business, the Grays have always produced their own silage, maize and cereals for the cows’ food and straw for their bedding. The farm is becoming zero till. Which means less cultivation to maintain and improve the quality of the soil naturally. Solar panels have been installed on the roof of the cowshed. As a local business supplying to a community of other local businesses, we have low road mileage. We have removed as much plastic as we can from the business, being mindful of our gelato packaging from the start. Due to the war in Ukraine at present,, sadly wooden spoon-in-lids are impossible to source at the moment! |
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Gray’s Gelato is a wonderful product we are proud to be able to offer to you all. It’s a firm favourite and it’s future.........”more of the same!”, Katherine declared. We couldn’t wish for more. Thank you Katherine for sharing the Gray family story. If you haven’t tried their Gelato remember to add some to your shopping basket when you next visit. |
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British Flowers Hand Tie WorkshopA great time was had by all, to celebrate British Flowers Week at the end of June. Flower girl Jo, led the a group step by step, so they could all create their very own bouquet of 100% British grown flowers. A few hours were enjoyed in the tranquil setting at the side of the pond, whilst learning a new skill. The morning was complete with Surrey Hills Coffee and Crosbies cakes. For future workshops keep an eye out on our social media and website.
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Fresh Fish Friday's at Tillingborne Farm and SmokeryExperience the freshest catch from the south coast waters at Tillingbourne Farm. Every Friday from 10am till 4pm indulge in a variety of fish, including salmon, seabass, cod, haddock, plaice, and more. Pre-order your desired selection before 6pm on Wednesday to secure the highest quality fish, sourced exclusively from family-run day boats. For walk-in customers, a limited stock is available based on the morning's catch, but pre-ordering is recommended to guarantee your order and ensure a perfect seafood experience. At Tillingbourne Farm and Smokery, we take pride in supporting local fishermen and sustainable fishing practices. By choosing our Fresh Fish Friday, you not only enjoy the unparalleled taste of freshly caught fish but also contribute to the preservation of traditional fishing methods. Embark on a gastronomic journey that celebrates the finest seafood from the south coast waters.
orders@tillingbournefarm.com // 01306 730 449 between 10am-4pm / 07766326020
Visit :Tillingbourne Farm, & Smokery, Dorking Road,Abinger Hammer, RH5 6SA
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Shere Pottage Sustainable Ethical and KindAre you aware of a new face to Shere, Shere Pottage popped up in May.. Environmentally conscious cleaning products … Refillable, compostable and Natural. It is important to us at Shere Pottage that we try to reduce the impact of our every day actions on the planet. We stock cleaning products that use natural ingredients which helps to reduce contaminants in our waterways. As much as possible, our products are made from easily recyclabe materials and with minimal packaging. Plants, Homewares & Gifts Curating a beautiful collection is important to us but most importantly, we want the products we sell to have been ethically made. We like to support local makers but also global enterprises that ensure workers are fairly paid and have good working conditions. We are constantly on the look out for new producers and are happy to receive recommendations for ethical and sustainable enterprises. The Forge, Middle Street, Shere, GU5 9HF Open Daily 10.30 -17.30
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Isle of Wight Oak Smoked Tomatoes 230gIsle of Wight Tomatoes, slowly roasted to intensify the flavours, followed by a cold smoking and finished with a little Anglesey sea salt. Utterly delicious on their own or great with your favourite pizza or pasta. Why not reuse the smoked infused oil which has soaked up all those delicious flavour for another meal. |
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Wessex Strawberry GinImmerse yourself in the exquisite taste of Wessex Strawberry Gin, an exclusive limited edition, meticulously crafted in partnership with the local grower, Secretts. Carefully selecting only the ripest and juiciest strawberries. Infusing the gin with their natural sweetness and vibrant flavours. Perfect for summer celebrations. |
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Dorking Area Foodbank…We are so pleased to say that we have been collecting donations for our local foodbank for the past 2 years. With your support, we drop off your donated items fortnightly. Whether you buy items from our Farm Shop or at your local supermarket - we are happy to accept any donation (large or small). Each week we update our foodbank blackboard, with the most-needed items. You can pick up a leaflet of all the “needs and not-wants”…nobody likes to see a donation wasted. Contributions could be anything from tinned tomatoes to chocolate bars. Simply drop off your items in our donation basket - situated just inside the Farm Shop entrance. As always, thank you for your continued support, it’s very much appreciated and now more important than ever!
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