Taste the difference for free at lamb Sunday

Husband and wife team Andy and Frances Offer who own Whyle House Lamb in Herefordshire, will once again open their farm to visitors, but this time inviting families to join them and enjoy a home grown Whyle House Lamb roast on Sunday 7th June from between 2.00pm and 5.00pm.

As part of Farming UK's Open Farm Sunday 2009, Whyle House Lamb, based in Pudleston near Leominster, will welcome visitors and give them the opportunity of seeing the farm’s ewes and lambs and discuss Andy and Frances’ farming ethos of rearing and raising lamb. Said Andy: “It’s people like Hugh Fernley Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver who have really helped challenge and change ideas about the food we eat. Today, thanks to their efforts, we want to know where our food comes from and we most definitely want to buy local produce and not buy a product that has travelled numerous miles before it gets to us.

“The feedback from our April lambing afternoons was so positive that we thought it would be a great opportunity to again open our doors but this time we would invite people to try Whyle House Lamb with a free lamb roast, and for the children a tractor and trailer ride to enjoy around the farm.”

The change in attitudes has not been an overnight sensation, but a slow and prolonged campaign to educate and inform. ‘River Cottage’ hit our screens back in 1998, with Hugh Fernley Whittingstall growing and rearing his own food. Launched via a TV series, River Cottage has since moved on, but Hugh’s principles of food integrity and the consumption of local and seasonal produce remains the same. Then there’s Jamie Oliver, known as the Naked Chef, Jamie has championed many food causes including the need to change Britain’s school meals, taking his campaign all the way to Downing Street and more recently, championing British pork and promoting Jamie’s Ministry of Food, focusing on how the UK’s eating habits have changed dramatically over the last 50 years with Brits now known for having one of the highest obesity rates within Europe.

Andy and Frances want children and their families to see the ewes and lambs enjoying life in the fields around the farm and they are keen that the younger generation understands where meat comes from as they firmly believe knowing how food is produced is the key to long term good health and the long term prosperity of local farms and local food producers.

Said Andy: “People buy our lamb because they know where it comes from, because they know we take good care of our animals and of course, because our lamb tastes so good! We want the opportunity to explain how we farm and our reasons for doing things the way we do, but the main aim of the afternoon is to have a relaxing time and enjoy a good Whyle House Lamb roast with our visitors and friends.”

An appointment for this free event isn’t necessary, but if you could contact Andy and Frances beforehand on 07831 256463 to let them know you plan to join them; they would very much appreciate it?

Remember, please do bring wellington boots or suitable footwear that can be disinfected and a sun hat if the sun is shining!

Full details are available on their website at www.whylehouse.co.uk with further information about Open Farm Sunday 2009 available from: www.farminguk.com