Category Archives: Events news

Kilnsey Park Estate has become the latest business in the Yorkshire Dales National Park to sponsor a feeder set up at a special red squirrel viewpoint at Snaizeholme, near Hawes.

The viewing area lies in the heart of the Widdale Red Squirrel Reserve and was created by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) and the local landowner to allow people to watch the animals as they feed in their natural habitat.

Kathryn Storey, the National Park Authority’s Tourism Officer, said: “Since we launched the sponsorship project last December we have had a fantastic response from local entrepreneurs who want to help preserve this endangered species.

“All it takes is a £50 donation, which pays for food for a month. In return, the sponsors are listed on our website at http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/squirrel-trail and they receive a certificate to display in their businesses.

“National Red Squirrel week runs from September 28 to October 4 and we are hoping it will capture people’s interest enough that they will want to visit the viewing area and see these fantastic creatures in the wild up close.”

Kilnsey Park Estate managing partner Jamie Roberts said: “We’re delighted to sponsor the feeder at the viewpoint because we have been a long-time supporter of red squirrels.

“Visitors have been able to see and learn about red squirrels as part of Kilnsey Park Estate’s captive red squirrel breeding programme, which ensures that the gene pool of red squirrels is as large as possible, hopefully ensuring that they will never become extinct.

“Red squirrels from the project have already been reintroduced to places where they will be safe from greys, including islands off mainland Britain.

Kilnsey Park wins Great Taste Awards for its Smoked Duck and Trout

The world’s most coveted blind-tasted food awards, Great Taste, has just released the Great Taste stars of 2015 and Kilnsey Park Estate is celebrating winning two awards. We won the coveted gold three stars for our Smoked Duck Breast and also gained a gold award for ourr Cold Smoked Trout. These smoked products will now be able to proudly carry the gold and black Great Taste logo. 

The Yorkshire Dales family run business was against some tough competition – there were over 10,000 entries to the awards, which were judged by over 400 of the most demanding food critics, chefs, cooks, restaurateurs, producers and a host of food writers and journalists. Great Taste is widely acknowledged as the most respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food producers.

Jamie Roberts, Managing Partner at Kilnsey Park Estate is delighted: “We are ecstatic at winning this award, just as we’re about to announce our plans to expand our range of smoked products. Many visitors come to Kilnsey Park to enjoy nature and fishing in our lakes, followed by a meal or snack in the restaurant – including fresh produce from our smokehouse. We’re now planning to increase our range of smoked products and make them available to a wider audience. They’re all smoked here at Kilnsey, using traditional techniques and recipes that date back hundreds of years”.

The judges commented: “The Kilnsey Park Estate smoked duck breast is moist and gives a very delicate smoke in the mouth. We found this to be a soft and gentle delight worthy of an award. Flavours come through in waves almost dancing with each other! The cold smoked trout has an attractive glazed appearance, a delicate flavour and is lightly smoked”.

Out of 10,000 Great Taste entries this year, only 130 (1%) have been awarded the three star award – including Kilnsey Park Estate’s smoked duck breast. The panel of judges included Masterchef judge and restaurant critic Charles Campion, TV presenter and cook Aggie Mackenzie, Great British Bake Off winner Frances Quinn, Masterchef the Professionals finalist Adam Handling, food buyers from Harrods, Selfridges, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer, and chefs.

The Holy Smokery will be launching in October 2015. A new range of premium smoked foods from the Yorkshire Dales will be available from www.holysmokery.net .