North Cumbrian nature reserve Watchtree Nature Reserve has partnered with a county firm to open a gelato shack.
It is working with Three Hills Gelato, based at The Torpenhow Cheese Company, and opened the Gelato Shack outside Watchtree’s Wheelers Cycle Hire centre.
Staff and volunteers from Watchtree recently visited The Torpenhow Cheese Company to find out more about its regenerative farming methods, and learn about the sustainability of their pasture-fed Jersey-Friesian-Norwegian Red herd, which graze the Cumbrian hills for at least 300 days of every year.
The northern edge of the Lake District is a great part of the country for growing grass and native clovers, chicory, herbs and legumes, all of which impart a unique and changing flavour to the milk and cheese throughout the year. In 2017, the farm stopped all chemical fertiliser, pesticide and herbicide use and three years later had converted to full organic status.
Watchtree general manager Ryan Dobson said: “We are delighted to have found a local brand that embodies the values of Watchtree, and be able to offer a high quality dessert product to our visitors.
“The gelato is not only absolutely delicious, but the ethos of both The Torpenhow Cheese Company and Three Hills Gelato, who place great emphasis on sustainable farming methods that encourage a diverse range of wildlife, really fits that of Watchtree Nature Reserve.”
Three Hills Gelato director Matthew Stockwell said: “We are really proud of our gelato range, and the variety of natural flavours we are able to create from our dairy in Torpenhow. The gelato is authentically Italian using the best local ingredients, and we think visitors to Watchtree will love it.”
The Torpenhow Cheese Company director, Mark Lee said: ‘Watchtree Nature Reserve is a fantastic outlet for our gelato products; visitors to Watchtree are already interested in nature and wildlife, and will appreciate the work and dedication that goes in to sustaining a dairy herd using regenerative farming methods which benefits the land, as well as the cows themselves.”
The gelato shack is open 10.30am until 3.30pm, Saturdays and Sundays during term time and every day during school holidays, and is also available by special request if planning a special visit. Opening times will be monitored and increased where there is sufficient demand, the nature reserve said.
