Why Locally Sourced Charcoal (and Rocket Stoves!) Make All the Difference.
BBQ season is upon us, and we are extremely happy to be teaming up with Tom at Crooked Tree Charcoal to supply our campers at our Dorset campsite with his charcoal. Not only because he is a lovely human being, but also, we love his values. They are very in line with our own in running an environmentally conscious business. We are not perfect however we try to be always heading in the right direction.
So why have we chosen to stock Crooked Tree Charcoal at our West Dorset Campsite?
Before you pop down to the local garage or supermarket to buy your charcoal, here’s something to consider:
Where does your charcoal come from?
Most charcoal sold in UK shops is imported — around 90%, in fact. Often produced in unsustainable ways, this charcoal is linked to illegal logging and deforestation in tropical forests. It’s also shipped across the globe, giving it a heavy carbon footprint before it even reaches your BBQ.
That’s why we’re proud to stock Crooked Tree Charcoal, made just down the road in West Dorset a stone throw away from the Jurassic coast by our friend and local arborist. His small-batch, chemical-free charcoal is produced using traditional methods and responsibly sourced wood from local woodland.
And it gets better.
When you stay at Old Bidlake Farm Campsite, you’re already choosing a slower, more mindful kind of camping trip. Cooking with a rocket stove and using local fuel — whether it’s Crooked Tree Charcoal for a BBQ pork belly recipe or kindling made from reclaimed wood — it’s just one more way to align with nature, support local makers, and enjoy a better outdoor experience.
At Old Bidlake Farm, we believe in thoughtful, eco-conscious camping and to give our campers the best experience we can. Let me explain. using traditionally made charcoal free from additives and tropical hardwoods you can really taste the difference in your food. up until now we have had all but one sense covered. Touch, as you walk bare foot in the meadow. Hearing, listening to the Sky Lark rising. Smell as you breath in the fresh air. Sight as you gaze across the beauty of the Marshwood Vail to the the distant hills. Now you can taste, as you sample the food you have freshly prepared on the grill.
Ready to plan your camping trip in West Dorset Just 15 minutes away from the Jurassic coast and it beautiful beaches?
Book your stay at Old Bidlake Farm and discover the joy of local food, clean fuel, and a relax atmosphere.
Let us leave you with a lovely Recipe. thats really easy to prepare on our campsite
BBQ pork belly recipe
Ingredients
1kg pork belly slices. You can purchase the best pork belly from R J Balson & Son. just down the road. This business is the oldest running family business in the uk has been past down through 25 generations, starting in 1515 when Henry VIII was on the thrown
BBQ Sauce
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
- 1 tsp dark soy sauce
- 2 tbsp soft light brown sugar
- 3 tbsp malt vinegar
- 1½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic granules
Method
Step 1 – preheat the oven (in the campers kitchen) to 120c. Mix together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl (that you will find in the cupboard) and season with a pinch of salt. also provided on the shelf Put the pork belly slices in a baking dish where they fit snugly. Pour over the sauce, toss and cover with foil. Roast for 2 hrs until very soft and tender.
Step 2 – Remove the pork belly from the sauce and transfer the sauce to a small pan. Simmer for 4-5 mins or until reduced by half and thickened.
Step 3 – Heat the barbecue and wait until the coals turn white and the flames die down. Add the pork belly slices to the barbecue cooking for 4-5 mins and brushing with reserved glaze