Video: New Ollerton butchers start venture to introduce rare-breed pork to Nottinghamshire’s forests

A New Ollerton butcher has said he hopes to bring Sherwood Forest’s traditional breed of pig back into circulation.
Butcher, Richard Allwood, shows off his award winning sausages.Butcher, Richard Allwood, shows off his award winning sausages.
Butcher, Richard Allwood, shows off his award winning sausages.

Family-run butchers S. Allwood & Son Ltd has been providing New Ollerton with its meat since 1928.

But owners, Richard and Yvonne Allwood, have now started a new venture to provide Nottinghamshire with the type of pork that used to roam its forests hundreds of years ago.

After winning a BPEX award at the Great British Sausage competition, the fourth generation of butchers is now working with local breeder, Gavin Wagstaff to see if the Mangalitsa pig can be reintroduced.

Butcher, Richard Allwood, shows off his award winning sausages.Butcher, Richard Allwood, shows off his award winning sausages.
Butcher, Richard Allwood, shows off his award winning sausages.

Richard, who has worked in the Forest Road butchers since he was 16, said: “The Mangalitsa is as close a breed as you can get to those that used to run in Sherwood Forest back in medieval times.

“It has curly hair and is a high welfare meat that we hope to put back into the food chain.”

The family-run butchers are supplied with one Mangalitsa pig a month by local farmer, Gavin Wagstaff.

Richard continued: “Gavin wants to reintroduce the Hungarian breed of Mangalitsa back into the forest so they become a common sight once again.

“We have been working with him for around six months and are beginning to test the water with different products.

“We’ve done the Mangalitsa sausages, we are trying out burgers and also selling the lard in bottles.

“The Mangalitsa is a totally different product to what we have done before.

“It has a different taste and texture to other sausages, it has a creamy flavour and is a high quality and very high welfare meat.”

During British Sausage Week (4th to 10th November), the butchers entered the BPEX Great British Sausage awards and made it through to the regional finals with its traditional sausage.

The butchers took bronze for its Mangalitsa sausages this year and was named regional champion for its black pudding and ofal products three years ago.

Richard said he hopes he can successfully reintroduce the Mangalitsa back to Nottinghamshire and continue entering it into competitions.

“Interest is just starting to pick up since the competition and we are looking at taking it to more food festivals and fayres.

“It is important people realise that it is bred locally and is a traditional meat,” He added.

Buy this week’s Mansfield Chad for a money off coupon on S.Allwood and Son’s sausages. Buy 3lbs of any sausages and get 1lb free. Offer ends 11th December.

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