Down on the farm where Christmas comes early every year

A modest operation has grown into a thriving business for a dedicated couple who now supply one of the country's most sought-after turkeys, writes Lewis Clarke

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WHEN most of us are still debating Halloween decorations, Will and Kate Martin are already knee-deep in feathers, freezer boxes, and farm logistics because at Treway Farm, Christmas starts in June.

Nestled in the countryside between Saint Austell and Truro, Treway Farm is home to one of the most sought-after Christmas turkeys in Britain. What began with just 25 birds has grown into a thriving seasonal operation supplying 2,500 heritage bronze turkeys and 250 geese to customers across the country, from Cornwall to Inverness.

But this is no ordinary turkey tale. At the heart of the operation is a husband-and-wife duo with grit, charm, and a deep-rooted passion for farming that's as real as the soil beneath their boots.

Will Martin is a first-generation farmer with a lifelong dream. "Myself and my wife Kate have been on Treway Farm for 18 years," he explains. "I've got uncles who were dairy farmers, so I grew up helping them and I always knew farming was what I wanted to do."

After a university course in farm management, fate offered Will and Kate the chance to take on Treway - an opportunity they seized with the backing of Will's parents. Since then, the Martins have transformed the farm into a mixed enterprise - raising pedigree Shorthorn cattle, running a pasture-for-life certified beef business, and of course, bringing the centrepiece to thousands of Christmas dinners.

They met on a blind date at the Badminton Horse Trials. "Will pretended to be super into horses all day," laughs Kate, "which turned out to be a massive lie." They now have two horses on the farm "getting quite old now," she adds and two children, Charlie and Flora, who are growing up amidst the chaos and charm of farm life.

The Martins started small, rearing a handful of turkeys for friends and family. One butcher came knocking. Word got around. Demand snowballed. And they've never looked back.