Blog
Cricket Tickets
Added 15-Jun-2010
I'm really sorry to have to let you know but unfortunately our Cricket Ticket promotion with Somerset County Cricket Club is now over. We've been so pleased with the response we have had to this promotion and we hope those of you who have bought tickets enjoy your games! There are still a few promotional packs out and about as we didn't want to waste the packs (much better environmentally!) but they have stickers on them to say that the tickets are no longer available.
Thanks again to everyone who took part and we apologise for any confusion that our left over packs may create!
Dan.
We are sailing.....
Added 11-Jun-2010
On Tuesday Vicky and I went along to the Heart FM studios to meet representatives from the charities that have been granted money from our donation. We met representatives from three of the four charities and some of the children the money will actually go to help. It was a real eye opener to actually speak to the people involved and to hear what a difference the money will make.
The guys that we met were so positive about what they can achieve with the grants that it really was an uplifting experience. I'll even be going along to see some of the guys in action. The Somerset Youth and Community Sailing Association will be buying new sails with its grant, so the team has made me promise to come down and test the sails out on the water!
I would just like to say thanks again for everyone that bought our 'have a heart' eggs during last summer as it has made all of this possible.
Dan.
Royal Bath & West Show
Added 04-Jun-2010
We've had a great few days at the Royal Bath & West Show and the weather has been just perfect. I've been down today to visit my sister, Vicky and dad, Tim on our stand, and there's been a great response from people wanting to learn more about the poultry industry.
With so much going on at the Show I just wish I had more time off our stand to take it all in! From the National Cheese Awards and the UK's biggest cider competition, to art exhibitions and fashion shows (no, not just barber jackets and wellies!) it's jam packed.
There's one day left and we'd love you to come along and say hello!
Dan.
It's show time!
Added 26-May-2010
Very shortly Blackacre will once again be a headline act at one of the Country's most eagerly anticipated summer festivals. It's in June, it's in a field, it's near Glastonbury...............that's right, it's the Royal Bath & West Show! Well the showground may not be a field but there is lots of grass!
We will be there continuing our now 'award-winning' work on the Chicken and Egg Campaign. Chicken and Egg is an NFU project to help educate people about the poultry industry and the Blackacre team was recognised for its work at the Royal Bath & West Show at this year's NFU awards.
For several years we have attended the show to help children and adults learn more about how the poultry industry works and we would love to see you there this time around. It's the Country's biggest rural festival and a great family day out, drop by and say hello from June 2nd to 5th.
Dan.
Our new producers
Added 17-May-2010
We will be welcoming some new producers to Blackacre Farm Eggs over the coming weeks and some have already come aboard. We have welcomed Tim from Beaminster, who is completely new to free range egg farming (I wonder if he's starting to realise what he let himself in for!) and Martin and Sheena Mayo from Friar Waddon Farm, near Weymouth, Dorset.
Martin and Sheena have a beautiful Farm in an idyllic location near the coast, as you can see in the photo above. Their small family run farm is 'all-go'. They have 8000 hens, a small flock of polled Dorset sheep and even a deer that comes to say hello!
They are helped on the farm at weekends by their two children, David and Rachel.
Welcome aboard!
Dan.
Charity in action
Added 30-Apr-2010
For three months we donated 2p from every sale of our six Large Free Range eggs to 'have a heart' and we raised a grand total of £5000 which will now go to help four Somerset children's charities. It will be fantastic to actually see the money making a real difference to disadvantaged young people.
Grants will go to: Highbridge Community Youth Club, so that it can provide art lessons; Somerset Trust for Arts and Recreation, which aims to provide opportunities through music, art and recreation for some of the most disadvantaged young people in Somerset; Somerset Youth and Community Sailing Association, which offers sailing for those with disabilities, additional learning needs and economically disadvantaged young people; Positive Action on Cancer which provides free professional counselling to help people hardest hit by the trauma and destruction of cancer and other life threatening illnesses.
Soon we will visit all the charities to see how the money has helped and I will update my blogs with the progress.
Dan.
The cream of the Westcountry
Added 23-Apr-2010
On Monday and Tuesday this week we were at the Taste of the West Trade Show exhibiting with some of the best and most unique farmers and producers in the region; a set that includes Blackacre of course!
It was great for us to get out and meet customers and new people that are interested in Blackacre Farm and what we do. At the Show you can actually eat your way around the region with biscuits from Cornwall, Mussels and Cheese from Devon, Chocolate from Dorset and to polish it off some cider from ..........yeah you guessed it Somerset!
We also had our new Blackacre display leaflets that explain our history, our family and our ethos. We got a really good response from everyone that visited the stand and we had completely run out by the end of the show, so all in all it was a very good trip!
Dan.
Dorset eggs...........
Added 16-Apr-2010
This picture was sent to me by a friend and I'm not sure of its true origins but we think it shows the Cerne Abbas Giant preparing for an egg and spoon race! This month we have four Dorset free range egg producers coming on board and we have decided to offer packs of all Dorset eggs in Dorset - we thought this might be the perfect picture for the pack!
Some of the free range egg farmers we have joining us are based in stunning locations and at one farm the hens even enjoy sea views when out roaming in the fields! I am really happy to be welcoming these farmers to Blackacre Farm eggs as I know they all share our family's ethos, that happy healthy hens will lay healthy and delicious eggs, and that's what it's all about.
On Monday my sister Vicky and I will be at the Taste of the West Show in Exeter. Why not come along and say hello. We have some brand new banners with my face on them so you can't miss us ..........well it seemed like a good idea at the time!
Dan.
The super food!
Added 09-Apr-2010
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it's .............a pack of Blackacre Farm Free Range Eggs! We've always known it at Blackacre Farm but finally the science community is catching on - eggs are a super food!
Now for the science bit - research to be published in June states that as eggs boost health and tackle obesity they should be considered a super food. Nutritionists claim that eggs are one of the most nutrient-dense foods and are recommending one a day for maximum benefit (and these boffins have probably never even tasted a Blackacre Farm Free Range egg, or they'd up that to two a day!)
Nutritionists also claim that among protein foods, eggs contain the richest mix of essential amino acids crucial for proper growth and repair. As well as this they also found out that they are blooming lovely boiled with some buttered soldiers!
Dan.
Easter egg rolling
Added 01-Apr-2010
On Monday my sister Vicky and I were at a local school in Gillingham, Dorset holding our first ever Easter egg rolling event. It was great fun with over 190 children taking part!
We dropped off hard boiled eggs for the children to decorate last week and the effort and detail put into decorating each egg was really impressive, some were so good it seemed a shame to roll them! We awarded chocolate Easter eggs to the best decorated from each class before the races, and then one to the fastest roller from each class.
There were some seriously fast rollers and a lot of carnage in terms of broken eggs (it's just lucky we remembered to hard boil them!) but everyone involved had a great time - so much so that some parents asked to join in!
Dan.
Keep on rolling.......
Added 25-Mar-2010
This week we have been gearing up for our egg rolling event on Monday at a local school. The children are busy decorating their eggs, following various curricular themes, and we have been to visit the school to work out exactly where the eggs should be rolled. Before all that though, there was the small matter of boiling the eggs.....................all 300 of them!
Next week I will post some pictures of the event. We are having four heats so it should be really fun, and probably quite messy by the end! If it all goes well who knows how many schools might get involved next year ........ but they will have to boil their own eggs!
Here is a clip demonstrating just how traditional Easter egg rolling is in Britain, it shows the people of Preston all turned out to roll eggs in 1901! I think our event will more closely resemble this clip though of children at an Iowa State Fair in the US; hopefully the weather will be as good for us!
Dan.
The Hotel & Catering Show
Added 18-Mar-2010
This week my sister Vicky and I have been at the Hotel & Catering show talking to Hoteliers, Publicans and Caterers about how they can guarantee the freshest, Westcountry free range eggs............ with Blackacre of course! The show provides a great opportunity to meet other people in the industry, discuss new products and ideas, and even to try samples of the lovely food on show!
It was great fun and our eggs were even used for the demonstrations by chefs like Brian Turner and Mark Hix - I'm sure it is their taste in free range eggs that got them where they are today! For more about the show click here. On 19th April we will be at the Taste of the West Show in Exeter and we are even thinking about having freshly boiled eggs and soldiers on the stand, so why not come and say hello!
Dan.
The renaissance of rolling!
Added 11-Mar-2010
It has been a great week for Blackacre and for eggs! This week I went along to St Mary the Virgin CE VA Primary School in Gillingham to work out the finer details of our first ever Easter egg rolling event. In the UK the tradition of rolling decorated eggs down grassy hills goes back hundreds of years and is known as 'pace-egging', from the old English 'Pasch' meaning Easter. Now Blackacre are reviving the tradition!
Starting with one school this year, where we will provide all the children with hard boiled eggs to decorate and then roll in a race, next year we hope to expand it further to really create the renaissance of rolling but we'll see how this year's goes first!
In the same week the Daily Mail has been promoting the fact that it is healthy to eat one egg a day.........and who wouldn't want to do that! In a really interesting article 'Unscrambling the myths and facts about eggs' it explains the facts and fiction behind eggs and the health benefits of eating eggs. Click here to read the article.
Dan.
Cricket ticket packs in shops!
Added 05-Mar-2010
This week we sent out the first of our free range eggs in special cricket ticket packs. Each and every pack of Blackacre free range eggs contains a special code on the best before label that will allow you to go onto the Somerset Cricket Club website www.somersetcricketclub.co.uk and order adult Twenty20 tickets for just 10!
The picture above shows the top of our special packs so look out for them in stores now! Hopefully I'll see you at the County Ground!
Dan.
Trescothick comes down to Blackacre Farm!
Added 26-Feb-2010
This week Marcus Trescothick came down to Blackacre Farm to help us launch our HALF PRICE CRICKET TICKET GIVEAWAY. What a mouthful! We have teamed up with Somerset County Cricket Club to offer adult Twenty20 tickets for just £10! From March, all you have to do is go to www.somersetcricketclub.co.uk and enter the exclusive promotional code which will be found on the best before label on top of our packs to buy your discounted tickets!
The hens had a great time up in our fields; they'd never had so much attention! We got some great snaps but we couldn't hang around too long as they liked the look of our shoe laces too much!
Dan.
have a heart
Added 19-Feb-2010
For three months during the summer we donated 2p from every sale of our 6 large free range eggs to 'have a heart', and on Thursday I went down to the Heart FM studio to help decide where the money raised should go. The charity works to help build a better future for children living in Westcountry communities and we had to decide which specific projects to support. I met with Belinda from have a heart, and Laura from the Ian and Laura Breakfast Show, and together we picked what we felt are three really worthy projects in the Westcountry.
We can't say exactly where the money will go just yet, as it all needs to be signed off by the charity, but it won't be long until the money is being used to benefit children in local communities. So watch this space, they'll all be announced......just as soon as I am allowed to shout about it! I can't wait to see the funds raised by all those who bought our eggs going to good use.
Dan.
Launching the layers
Added 11-Feb-2010
Tonight I am attending the first ever Westcountry Layers meeting at Padbrook Park Hotel in Devon. As I have mentioned on the blog before I am now representing the South West on the Council for the British Free Range Egg Producers but this meeting is only for producers in the Westcountry. The meeting gives us a chance to talk to other producers about our flocks, farming and methods and to exchange ideas and experiences so that we can all produce delicious eggs.
The 25th February is another important night as we will be attending the launch of the 'Taste of Somerset Awards' at Sharpham Farm. This year we will be sponsoring the 'Best Pub Category' meaning that I will have to go to some of the very best pubs in Somerset and sample their culinary delights...... it's a tough job but someone has to do it!
Dan.
The Iron Lady...
Added 05-Feb-2010
Last week I mentioned how nutritious, delicious and versatile eggs are but if you're not willing to accept my humble opinion what about Margaret Thatcher's?! It has been revealed that for two weeks in the run up to her victory, becoming the first ever female PM, she stuck to a 'winners' diet the main staple of which was 28 eggs per week!
She used to eat one or two for breakfast each morning and then more for lunch and they weren't even Blackacre Eggs; imagine how many she would have got through if she'd have tried ours! People may not agree with all of her political views but she obviously understood the importance of eggs to a healthy diet, and if it's good enough for a Prime Minister, its good enough for me!
Dan.
Egg curry...
Added 29-Jan-2010
Now I know I'm biased but eggs have to be one of the most precious ingredients on the planet - they're nutritious, delicious and versatile! On the Blackacre website we have our own recipe suggestions here. We have Penne Carbonara, Blueberry Pancakes, my very own Farm House Pizza and my Dad Tim's Devil Eggs, but having a little look around there are so many amazing dishes you can make with eggs (Blackacre of course!) the mind boggles, and the passion people have for the subject is incredible.
Here is one example of a very exotic recipe that I might try tonight! Authentic egg curry! It might sound a bit bizarre but if you actually watch the clip by the end I challenge you to not be at the very least, intrigued! For something a little more traditional though you have to look to our very own Delia.
Click here to learn one of the most ancient and intricate of egg recipes - boiled! In less than 900 words! Delia explains how to boil the perfect egg. As delicious as the egg curry looks nothing compares to a couple of eggs boiled to perfection with a healthy round of freshly buttered soilders - you can't beat them .......well then they would be scrambled!
Dan.
Filming on the farm
Added 22-Jan-2010
This week Richard Ricket came down to the farm to finish off filming for his DVD which is all about how food makes its way from the farm to the kitchen table. The film will be presented by Justin Fletcher who is also the voice of Mr Tumble (in the picture above!)
Richard started filming at Silverthorne Farm where we source some of our free range eggs, and then this week, he focused on how Blackacre eggs are packed, loaded and distributed all throughout the Westcountry. The film will be available from next Spring throughout schools, Early Learning Centres and Richard's website.
Dan.
The snow must go on......
Added 13-Jan-2010
We've had yet more snow up at Blackacre Farm so I thought I would take my new dog Odie up to find his way around the farm whilst it is looking so pristine! I also introduced him to one of our free range hens, who braved the cold briefly before I returned her to the warm shed!
This week during the artic conditions we've been absolutely rushed off our feet. I think that when people have been faced with the prospect of getting snowed in they stock up on the essentials, and what could be more essential than freshly laid free range eggs - which you can have for breakfast, lunch or tea!
Dan.
The snowmobile
Added 08-Jan-2010
As I mentioned in the previous posts our free range hens don't take a day off even for Christmas let alone for snow days! So this past week has been a real test of character to make sure the eggs continue to be collected and delivered throughout the South West. Some of our team here at Blackacre live in some wonderfully idyllic locations in Somerset, but these beautiful country lanes tend not to get gritted .......ever! Meaning this week I've been carrying out my new role as chauffer picking up any of my stranded team in the 4x4!
I was able to get out in even the worst conditions to pick up any of my team that couldn't risk it on the icy roads, meaning that we managed to keep going. We did fall a little behind with deliveries in some of the worst affected areas in the South West, but I'm glad to say with a lot of hard work from our drivers we are all up to date. I think that's enough snow for now though!
Dan.
Happy New Year!
Added 31-Dec-2009
We really enjoyed Christmas here at Blackacre, it was a big family affair with all the trimmings but as we are farmers our extended family includes 4000 hens! Our hens are out roaming the fields 365 days of the year - unless it's too cold of course in which case they stay inside! Unfortunately they don't fully understand the concept of shutting for Christmas so our hard working team have been here on the farm making sure that people can continue to get the freshest free range Blackacre Farm Eggs.
This year I actually had Christmas day off which was lovely, the only downside being that I'll be in at 5am on New Years Day!
Wishing you all a happy and 'eggtastic' New Year!
Dan.
Merry Christmas from Blackacre
Added 18-Dec-2009
2009 has been a good year for Blackacre and we would just like to thank everyone that has supported us by buying our Westcountry free range eggs. There's been lots of exciting goings on at the farm including filming for a children's television series, the arrival of 4000 new hens, and my sister Vicky heading off to Machu Pichu to raise money for charity.
To cap it off tonight we have our Christmas do. It's always a great occasion with the whole Wood family, all our free range egg producers, and everyone that works with us here on Blackacre Farm. This year we are holding our very own X- Factor! We have a karaoke machine booked and my dad Tim is all ready to do his very best Simon Cowell impression. Unfortunately it means that I'll have to be Louis Walsh!
Merry Christmas.
Dan.
Our VIPs meeting (Very Important Producers!)
Added 10-Dec-2009
Today we met with our other free range egg producers at The Fox and Hounds in Charlton Adam. The meeting provides a great opportunity for us to let our producers know what's going on at Blackacre Farm, and more importantly to find out what's going on at their farms!
We started with the 'science' bit which came from our vet David explaining all the new ways to ensure that our hens stay healthy and happy. We then talked about the new system whereby each of our producers will be able to print their codes straight onto their own eggs. The codes are very important to us at Blackacre as they makes sure customers can trace each egg to the exact Westcountry farm on which it was laid through our website. We finished off with a nice ploughman's - lovely!
Dan.
4000 free range hens arrive!
Added 04-Dec-2009
On Monday we welcomed our new free range hens to Blackacre Farm. There is nothing better on a cold frosty morning than waking up to a full English breakfast complete with free range Blackacre eggs so we are making sure we have enough to keep up with demand.
On Thursday I took some of our producers up to the British Free Range Egg Producers' AGM which was very interesting - for those in farming anyway! I also found out that I will now be the South West representative on the Council for the British Free Range Egg Producers which I am delighted about. This is fantastic news as it means finally my voice on farming will be heard unlike hear on Blackacre Farm where the hens pretty much do what they want! As long as they're producing lovely free range eggs though I can't complain!
Dan.