Award-Winning New Forest Pannage Pork - Coming Soon to Hockey's Farm
Award-Winning New Forest Pannage Pork – Coming Soon to Hockey’s Farm
If you’ve ever wandered through the New Forest in autumn, you may have noticed something unusual: pigs trotting happily under the oak and beech trees, snuffling through the fallen leaves. They’re not escapees, and they’re not lost. They’re part of an ancient tradition that makes the New Forest one of the most special places in the country. It’s called pannage, and it’s the secret behind some of the best-tasting pork you’ll ever try.
And here’s the exciting bit, Hockey’s Farm Pannage pork will be available from late October, and pre-orders are open now.
What exactly is Pannage?
Pannage is a tradition that goes back nearly a thousand years, to the days of William the Conqueror. Each autumn, pigs are released into the Forest to feast on acorns, chestnuts, and beech mast. It might sound quirky, but there's a good reason for it. Acorns are harmful to ponies and cattle, but pigs can eat them with no trouble. In fact, they love them and the nuts give the pork an extraordinary depth of flavour.
The New Forest is now the only place in the UK where pannage still happens, making it a truly unique part of our heritage. It’s not just farming, it’s history alive in the landscape.
Why Pannage Pork is So Special
When pigs spend weeks roaming the Forest, filling up on acorns and chestnuts, the difference comes through in the meat. The pork develops a richness that’s hard to describe until you’ve tasted it: nutty, slightly sweet, beautifully tender, and unlike anything you’ll find in a supermarket.
It’s the kind of flavour that makes a Sunday roast unforgettable, sausages deeply savoury, and pork chops practically melt in your mouth. Pannage pork isn’t just food, it’s a once-a-year experience you don’t want to miss!
Great Taste Award-Winning Flavour
At Hockey’s Farm, we’ve been working with British Lop rare breed pigs for years, and our commitment to quality has been recognised nationally. We were thrilled to win at The Great Taste Awards for our Olde English Pannage Pork Sausage and our Cracked Black Pepper Pannage Pork Sausage picked up Gold at The Great Hampshire Sausage and Pie Competition.
If you’ve ever wondered what all the fuss is about, those sausages are the perfect introduction. Juicy, deeply flavoured, and seasoned just right, they showcase the best of what the Forest and tradition can produce. We’re immensely proud of those awards — but even prouder that our customers come back year after year for more.
Cooking with Pannage Pork
So how should you enjoy it? Honestly, however you like. Pannage pork shines in simple cooking, where its natural flavour can speak for itself. Think:
A shoulder joint, slow-roasted until the meat falls apart, with crispy crackling on top. Perfected with apple sauce Mrs. Darlington’s Bramley Apple Sauce from the farm shop.
Sausages sizzling in the pan for a hearty breakfast or autumn casserole.
Chops grilled with nothing more than a pinch of salt, a grind of black pepper, and maybe a sprig of thyme.
Whatever you make, you’ll notice the difference. The flavour is richer, the texture more tender, the eating experience more satisfying. It’s pork elevated by nature itself. Graham and Tom, our in-house butchers, always have cooking tips for you to get perfect results each time!
Available Late October – Pre-Order Now
Here’s the catch: Pannage only happens once a year. Pannage starts this year on Monday 15th September and finishes on 28th November. Supplies are always limited, and once it’s gone, it’s gone until next autumn. That’s why we open pre-orders early, so our customers don’t miss out.
Our Pannage pork will be available from late October, but you can reserve your share today. Whether you’re after sausages, roasting joints, or a selection to fill your freezer, ordering ahead is the best way to make sure you don’t miss this very special season.
A Taste of Tradition
In a world where so much food is mass-produced and stripped of character, pannage pork is a reminder of what happens when tradition, landscape, and farming come together. It’s more than just pork, it’s a living piece of New Forest history, and one we’re incredibly proud to share with you.
So this autumn, why not treat yourself to something truly unique? Come and see us at Hockey’s Farm Shop, place your pre-order, and take home the award-winning taste of the New Forest.
👉 Call or visit Hockey’s Farm today to pre-order your Pannage pork, and savour a once-a-year flavour you’ll never forget. Email naturalmeats@hockeysfarm.co.uk to place your order!
