Our bit for the Environment

Lazylonghorn chooses Sheep's Wool Packaging for Meatbox Doorstep Deliveries

Lazylonghorn is now making it's doorstep meatbox deliveries to customers in award-winning insulated packaging made f rom British sheep's wool - woolcool®.

Woolcool® provides the recycled, recyclable, biodegradable and sustainable alternative to polystyrene insulated boxes which allows Lazylonghorn to provide a more eco-friendly direct delivery service to its customers across Staffordshire. By switching to woolcool®, Lazylonghorn is making a positive step to reducing non-biodegradable polystyrene packaging waste that would otherwise go to landfill.

Woolcool® is made from 100% British sheep's wool which has unique natural insulation properties for maintaining stable temperatures incredibly effectively. Wool is simply washed, scoured and felted to create entirely natural, fleecy insulation which is sealed within recyclable food-grade wrap. The woolcool® insulation is then used as liners for Lazylonghorn's recyclable cardboard delivery boxes which keep chilled contents cool, below 5°c for at least 24 hours, even more effectively than polystyrene.

The woolcool® boxes will be used for delivering Lazylonghorn's range of locally sourced fresh meats including Longhorn beef , Gloucester Old Spot and Mangolitza pork. For more information go to http://www.woolcool.com/.

The Fall and Rise of English Longhorns

Two hundred years ago, Longhorns were the most popular cattle in Cheshire. In the early eighteenth century, the ideas of Jethro Tull and Charles "Turnip" Townshend were increasing crop yields and introducing root crops for winter fodder. Once farmers could overwinter their cattle, instead of having to slaughter most of them in the autumn, they experimented with selective breeding to improve their stock.

Robert Bakewell, of Dishley Grange near Loughborough, worked on the long-horned cattle of the Midlands. His famous Dishley Longhorns had large cylindrical bodies and enlarged hind quarters, giving plenty of meat to help feed an ever-increasing urban population.

In 1810, most Midlands cattle were of this type and were even being exported to Australia and the USA (though the Texas Longhorn is a different breed, derived from Spanish stock). But the Longhorn's popularity was shortlived. By 1842 they had virtually disappeared; superseded by Shorthorns, which were easier to handle, more fertile and better milkers.

The decline continued until Longhorns were registered on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust list and the number of herds rose from 22 in the early 1900s to well over 100 today. The cattle are docile, calve easily and are attractive to look at, with their showy horns, rich reddish colour and characteristic white “finch back” stripe. Their lean meat also suits modern tastes.