AN ISLE of Wight couple fresh to farming and proud of the way they sustainably do it, has opened a new arm to their business — the Wild Oak Farm Shop and Emporium — and are enjoying some early success.
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The enterprise, based at Briddlesford Lane, Wootton Bridge, was established by Edd and Laura Devereux-Pilkington, who recently took on the lease for the Dores Hill site.
The couple, first generation farmers, produce and supply ethically farmed meats and eggs across the Island already under their Wild Oak Farm business, established in 2020.
To expand their business into a farm shop and café, alongside an antiques and collectables emporium, Edd and Laura acquired the commercial lease on Dores Hill.
The site of the former Dores Hill Farm Emporium became famous after it featured three times on popular BBC programme, Antiques Road Trip, three times — the most recent occasion being in February last year.
Edd, with a marine engineering background, and Laura, a former mechanic, spent five hard weeks refurbishing the premises.
"We are very much a family business. We wanted to create a homely feel, where we are 100 per cent mud and dog friendly with our customers," said Edd.
Opening last month, the Wild Oak Farm Shop and Emporium attracted 450 people on its first day — the word spreading by word-of-mouth and despite ongoing road closures imposed on Briddlesford Road and the surrounding area.
It features a farm shop that sells locally-produced goods, which includes totally grass fed and pasture-raised lamb, beef and pork, sausages and free range eggs.
They also sell anything from local organic vegetables and fruit, to sauces, chutney and jams.
Edd and Laura run a pedigree herd of Belted Galloways, a flock of very friendly pedigree Dorper sheep, goats, pigs and a 160-strong brood of hens on their small, family-run farm.
Their coffee shop sells home-made, freshly-baked cakes, scones, sausage rolls (and vegetarian alternatives) and quiches.
On Sunday, they held a special Mother's Day tea, which sold out the cosy cafe, which can seat up to 32 customers, and many more outside during the warmer months.
The emporium also features locally-produced crafts, as well as antiques and collectables.
"We initially planned for the premises to be just a farm shop and cafe, but a lot of the dealers who sold here before, wanted to continue, so we had a rejig. It works really well," said Edd.
The couple have plans to open a red squirrel walk and hide in surrounding woodland, as well as a micro brewery.
Open Thursday to Sunday, from 10am.
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