We’ve all been reaching for the biscuits and choccie over lockdown but if you fancy cracking into this amazing super sized Easter egg you just need to buy a raffle ticket and you’ll be supporting the animals at Sacrewell Farm at the same time.
This giant chocolate treat has been created by local artisan chocolate makers to help fundraise for the popular farm attraction and heritage site near Peterborough which has been hard hit by the pandemic.
The 2.5ft handmade Belgian chocolate giant egg worth a whopping £600 was lovingly made by Barbara Farrow, owner of Stamford Heavenly Chocolates, and raffle tickets to win it are now on sale.
Chocolatier Barbara Farrow (pictured below) came up with the idea of designing and making a special chocolate egg for supporters to win. She said: “We wanted to bring some fun and happiness with our Giant Easter Egg, but we also want to help raise some money as a thank you to The William Scott Abbott Trust charity, as they, like us, have been hit very hard by the impact of the lockdown and restrictions. Without Sacrewell and our move, we may not have survived as a business.”
Sacrewell is run as a charity by the William Scott Abbott Trust with the aim of connecting people to the science, heritage, and practical art of agriculture. The farm’s become known for its rare breed farm animals. Residents in its paddocks include Seren and Grace, Suffolk Punch horses that are both expecting foals this spring. Suffolk Punches are a breed of heavy horse that is currently classed as ‘critically endangered’. Indeed, these horses are rarer than even the Giant Panda! Other animals include British Landrace Pigs, a breed classed as ‘endangered’, two rare breeds of sheep, and rare breed goats. Each of these animals has specific needs and this winter’s wet weather has brought extra challenges to the farm, meaning that they have had to supplement their grazing with extra food, which in turn, has eaten into the budget.
It’s hoped the sale of raffle tickets to win the giant Easter Egg which weighs 12kg (and that’s not taking into account all of the handmade chocolate carrots, handmade fondant bunnies, flowers and the giant bow that adorn it), will help a little towards costs.
It was put together over three days to ensure that the chocolate was fully set before the decorating could begin. Barbara chose the bunny theme not only because bunnies naturally go with an Easter egg, but because her new shop and workshop are located in a barn that formerly housed Sacrewell’s rabbits and other small animals.
Barbara said: “The decorating of the egg was the longest process which was done on and off over the period of a week and took 16 hours in total to complete. Everything was handmade by me and is completely edible, apart from the stand!”
Tickets for the Giant Easter Egg raffle cost £5 each and can be bought online from Sacrewell’s website www.sacrewell.org.uk The closing date for entries is Friday March 26, 2021. The prize winner will be randomly selected in an independently supervised draw at Stamford Heavenly Chocolates premises on Monday March 29.
Lee Scowen, General Manager at Sacrewell, said: “We are delighted that Barbara and her team at Stamford Heavenly Chocolates have chosen to support us in this way. The funds raised in the Giant Easter Egg Raffle will be used towards the running costs of Sacrewell Farm.”
Anyone inspired by Barbara Farrow’s creativity may like to commission a bespoke handmade chocolate Easter Egg.