The story of our free range turkeys

The turkeys arrive at the farm in Essex as day-old chicks at the beginning of July. During their first few weeks they are housed in modern sheds, in small groups under heaters and need much attention.

At the end of August they are moved to large open sided Pole barns on straw bedding and they are then allowed out into a 4-acre paddock by day giving them the freedom to roam. With the help of Tess, our trusty sheepdog, they are brought inside each evening to protect them from Mr Fox!

Our free range turkeys are fattened on rations containing at least 70% cereals with no animal protein and are never given antibiotics or other additives for growth promotion.

In December the free range turkeys are dry plucked and then hung for at least a week in a chilled store to give them their beautiful succulent flavour.

The turkeys, when ready for collection, will be in attractive carry-home boxes, wrapped in greaseproof paper and accompanied by cooking instructions, recipe leaflet and of course the TFTA Golden Promise Quality Guarantee.

Salix Farm is a small family farm situated in the picturesque village of Gt Sampford in rural north-west Essex. The farm is run by Mike Lindsell and his wife Sue, following on from his late father Penny (Spencer) who started farming in 1955.

We farm 400 acres of arable land growing wheat, barley, sugar beet and oilseed rape, as well as the 2300 turkeys reared for the Christmas market. We also have a 2-acre vineyard, Sandyford Vineyard on the farm which is now in its 8th year of wine production.