We began our day at The Pig, a lovely hotel located in the New Forest. Dinner last night was at The Pig with their famous “25 mile menu”, which means everything on the menu comes from within 25 miles of the restaurant.
As you can imagine with a name like The Pig that pork is an important component of their menu. This is because they are known for their “pannage pork”.
Pannage pork is a traditional British method of raising pigs where they are allowed to roam free in a forest or woodland, feeding on acorns, beechmast, and other nuts. This practice, known as pannage, dates back centuries and is now primarily associated with the New Forest. It is said to be the most delicious pork. Sadly it is seasonal and that season is autumn and not spring.
The Pig also has daily tours of their kitchen garden, where much of their produce is sourced.
Today we drove along the south coast from the New Forest to Brighton with a stop at Sheffield Park and Gardens.
The first mention of Sheffield was in 1086 and was land given by William the Conqueror to his half-brother.
It wasn’t until the 1780s, when the estate was sold, that it took shape as what we see today. The new owner and his wife spent a fortune on the house and gardens and even hired Capability Brown to design them.
The 200 acre grounds are simply beautiful and a joy to explore.
During World War II, Sheffield was home to the Royal Canadian Artillery. As you can imagine the impact of having troops stationed there was great and by the 1950s the estate was sold to the National Trust where it remains today.
The estate is now home to many birds such as this beautiful peacock.
We finished our day in Brighton on the south coast. Our room is right on the sea and we have a view of the famous old Brighton Pier. The pier was built in 1860s, but by 1975 had become derelict and was abandoned. In 2003 what remained burned down in a famous fire. This is all that remains:
Tomorrow we conclude our countryside garden tour in Kent before we move to the glamorous gardens in London!
