Residents of Torbay are being offered a new opportunity to support wildlife conservation... by tucking into tasty burgers!! For the Riviera International Centre in Torquay has just opened its impressive new BBQ Shack & Rotisserie on the Bay Brasserie terrace where one of the most popular dishes is likely to be the wildlife friendly burgers supplied by Occombe Farm.

Dominic Acland from the Torbay Conservation Trust which owns the farm explained that all the burgers are handmade at the farm’s traditional butchery with organic beef reared on farms throughout Devon including – on occasions – from cattle born and reared on the farm itself.

“The farms all use traditional English breeds that are reared on grass and develop slowly which give them a better flavour than faster-growing continental breeds. The beef is hung for three weeks which allows it to develop even greater tenderness and flavour,” he said.

“The Occombe herd is a pedigree herd of Ruby Reds also known as the North Devon. It is a hardy breed used to the tough conditions found in North Devon and we use the cattle in Torbay to graze the rough pastures of our nature reserves, including Occombe Farm, Berry Head and Sharkham Point. The cattle help maintain these areas in a good condition for the rare flora and fauna that exist there, including Greater Horseshoe bats, unusual orchids and butterflies.

“So these are really wildlife-friendly burgers which means that anyone who eats and enjoys them is really supporting wildlife conservation in Torbay.” The Riviera International Centre’s operations manager Jenny Thompson said: “The BBQ Shack is a purpose built dining facility to encourage more al fresco style eating and drinking on the large sun terrace outside the Bay Brasserie which boasts superb views of the torre abbey gardens and the Bay.

“We are delighted that whenever possible all our food and produce is sourced locally including the Occombe Farm burgers and you cannot get any more local than that.”
Occombe Farm is one of the Trust’s flagship conservation projects. It opened in 2006 as a demonstration organic farm with a superb farm shop, bakery, butchery and café. It hosts a range of events and educational facilities, offers a wheelchair friendly 2km nature trail and audio and art trails.

The Trust itself is Torbay’s innovative conservation charity which manages Cockington, Berry Head, the Seashore Centre at Goodrington and many of Torbay’s favourite green spaces. All the proceeds from the farm go to support the Trust’s wider work.

The Centre’s new BBQ Shack & Rotisserie is open now every day and the delicious Occombe Farm burgers are just £4.50. Booking isn’t necessary for the BBQ Shack, just turn up find a spare table and order at the bar.