BBC One’s Countryfile, including special guest editor Mary Berry, comes to Henley-on-Thames in a unique episode that focuses on how farming and the countryside influenced her life and career.

Mary Berry is joining #Countryfile next Sunday as our guest editor!
Mary will share how farming and the countryside have influenced her life and career – and still do. pic.twitter.com/fF8PEHY2HG

— BBC Countryfile (@BBCCountryfile) August 23, 2020

Local resident Mary Berry cemented her reputation as one of the UK’s most well-loved and famous cooks. She is a champion of small producers and local produce and in this extra-special episode, Mary meets with three local producers; Nettlebed Creamery, English Farm and Bosley Patch to celebrate a shared passion for farming, animal welfare, organic and seasonal produce.

Rose Grimond, of Nettlebed Creamery, explains their involvement: “We were delighted to invite Mary to the Creamery, where we make our multi award-winning organic cheeses and newly launched organic butter”.

Mary also visited English Farm, in Nuffield, where the owner Robert Laycock impressively describes how at home she was walking through the beautiful Longhorn herd: “Not many presenters would mix so closely with huge horned cattle (including the bulls!).  Mary was completely at ease – because our longhorns are allowed to live stress-free in their natural environment, they are calm and happy”.

“Welcoming Mary, Matt and the team to English Farm was a great privilege. Giving viewers an insight into our organic pasture-fed farming methods, and the beef we take such care to produce, is a treat for us. Sharing our passion and pride in what we do is so much fun”, Robert explains.

The third producer that the team met with was Tamsin Borlase of Bosley Patch, Henley-on-Thames. “We were thrilled to welcome the team to the garden at Bosley Patch. It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase what we’ve been doing for the last 17 years”, explains Tamsin. 

Mary Berry’s special episode of Countryfile will air on BBC One on Sunday August 30^th at 7:00pm

Founded by Rose Grimond, in 2015, the business has won many awards including three stars at Great Taste, Supergold at The World Cheese Awards and Best Soft White and Best Organic at the British Cheese Awards.

Nettlebed Creamery sells three cheeses; Bix, Highmoor and Witheridge, as well as unhomogenized organic milk, organic kefir and cultured butter.

They have partnerships with Style Acre – a charity providing support for young people with learning disabilities – and also HMP Huntercombe. As part of the rehabilitation programme of appropriate candidates, they provide employment for up to three offenders.

Good food, beautiful countryside and respect for people underlines everything about what Nettlebed Creamery does.

Full details are available on the website, including stockist, wholesale, milk float deliveries and The Hatch information.

www.nettlebedcreamery.com

Set just outside Henley-on-Thames in Nuffield, English Farm are firm believers in the benefits of a diverse pasture-only diet for their animals. They have taken the time to explore what makes the best British beef – a combination of high welfare and a diverse pasture diet: which is full of flavour; environmentally sustainable; and healthier than that of conventional grain-fed animals. 

English Farm have an extensive cutting list and can usually cut to order for their customers. Their Longhorn beef is cut in over 50 ways, some of which you would be unlikely to find even in the best high street butchers.

When in season, they also stock Lamb and Wild Venison from their neighbours and have just launched a new free-range pork offering from an exceedingly high welfare farm in Suffolk.

You can find details on English Farm’s product range and how to order on their website www.englishfarm.net or you can contact them directly for details and to make an order –  longhorns@englishfarm.net.

Bosley Patch is a family run business located at Swiss Farm, just outside Henley-on-Thames. They provide genuinely local produce to the community, selling only what is grown through the seasons. All of the vegetable boxes, market produce and cut flowers are picked fresh and in your home in a matter of hours.

The Shed at Swiss Farm, open 7 days a week, sells a selection of high-quality vegetables, fruit, sourdough bread and an ever expanding selection of baked goods including doughnuts, pretzels (seasonally), cakes and biscuits. Customers can also find a limited range of Bosley Patch small batch, special edition preserves and chutneys, Nettlebed creamery products, Laceys cream, Stokes farm eggs, Honeys of Henley and Biokef kefir.

A small range of high-quality branded items, lovely aprons, tote bags and tea-towels will be available online for Christmas and in the shop. 

In addition, a limited range of selected seeds from the garden will be available online too, as well as the shop,

Vegetable / ‘essentials’ boxes (for collection only) are available through the website and they will be expanding the available product list for this into the autumn. Nationwide mail order flowers will be rolled out for next year.

www.bosleypatch.co.uk