A day to remember at River Cottage

After winning two places on the River Cottage ‘All about Chicken’s’ Course in the Organic Feed Company competition earlier this spring, Heather Sears tell us all about the day she and her husband spent at the famous River Cottage HQ in the Devon countryside.

“We had a great day at River Cottage – when we arrived we were taken down the steep track by tractor and converted trailer and were welcomed in the yurt with tea, coffee and chocolate brownies.

From there we went into the barn and were given a talk by Steve, Pammy and Richard on all topics chicken related, from husbandry to breeding, fox control to breeds of chickens for egg or meat production and then a mouthwatering cookery demo by Gill.

It was then outside to look at some chickens, Pammy, Richard and his wife had brought along a few of their own. Back in the warm barn, we were treated to a fabulous lunch with a chance to try some of the delights demonstrated earlier, along with a seafood soup and a very moreish rhubarb roullade.

After lunch we had the opportunity to explore the grounds of River Cottage. It was lovely to see where the filming takes place and meet some of the people involved.

In the afternoon, we were each presented with a chicken to gut. These had already been killed and plucked and everyone got down to the task set, with help from Pammy and some of the kitchen team. At the end of the day, we all headed back up the track to our cars with the prepared chickens after a great day.

I have three hens at home in my back garden which I have had for just over two years. They lay wonderful eggs and enjoy scratching about in the borders, clearing slugs and other garden pests. They are pets though so are saved from the pot.

Since coming home we have cooked our 2 chickens prepared at River Cottage and eaten or frozen them, with a sense of achievement because we had prepared them ourselves.

It is a day which we shall remember for a long time.”