When the Foot and Mouth epidemic struck life was difficult as the farming businesses were severely hit. Undaunted David started again but this time his business plan was to breed, grow on his own pigs and then retail the pork direct to the public.
The prime aims were to rear animals in a natural environment on a free range system where the pigs live happily, in natural surroundings all year round. These aims still are paramount in the farm side of the business. To these David and Debbie have added that they will only sell naturally reared pork, freshly prepared for their customers each week.
Some products do take a little longer as hams need to be cured and some products like bacon smoked - all smoked products are smoked in-house using selected wood chips that enhance the flavour of the products rather than giving it a smoked taste.
offering a huge range of fresh pork and other products, every weekend. Please take a look at Our Products to see the complete range and Where to find us for market details.
In the past year Downland have been privileged to prepare and sell from the Lackham Limousin X beef herd. We buy selected live animals from the farm and the meat is hung, in our butchery, for at least 23 days to allow the meat to mature and become tender with a superb flavour. The beef is prepared to the same high standards as the pork in the Downland butchery. From time to time Downland are able to offer Texel X lamb also from Lackham. Downland supports other local farms and for example, retail free range eggs on behalf of Oakley Farm, Melksham.
The old butchery in Lacock, Wiltshire was a converted poultry unit and although functional offered no scope for improvement or expansion so the new premises was found and fitted out to a modern standard. This gives the business the ability to expand in volume whilst maintaining the very high standard of produce.
Downland Produce have a very high reputation their fresh meats and other products are bought by discerning hotels, restaurants and pubs both in London and locally. Free Range, Naturally Reared Pork is available by mail order from the online shop which allows customers from all over England to have access to quality pork and pork products.
The Wilkinson Family have been Breeders and growers of naturally healthy, happy pigs and purveyors of prime, fresh pork and products from our own farm for over 25 years.
Following the contamination incidents over the past few months, involving high profile online and high street organisations, we have decided to start making our meat available direct via an
In addition to our Downland, Naturally reared Pork we will be offering Lackham, 28 day, dry aged, Limousin X BEEF and when available Lackham, grass-fed, TexelL X Lamb. We will also make available our full product range including Award Winning Sausages, Ham and Bacon
Look out for our new Products.
These products are smoked in our own smoker carefully watched over to ensure that the flavour of the wood enhances the meat without smothering the natural flavour of our pork.
