Linking farms and food with the local community‏
The first of the Mini Food Expos and Farm Walks as part of the Natural England's farm demonstration programme aimed at linking farms and food with the local community, is set for Sunday 2 December 2007 at Stourhead Farm Shop. The Royal Bath & West of England Society has combined forces with Somerset Food Links Ltd and the Market & Coastal Towns Association to deliver these events.
At a series of events across the South West, people living in market towns are invited to come along to discover more about the farming activities that are happening on their doorstep and find out what local food is available to them.
The farm tours will be hosted by the farmer and the public can hear about the role that they play in producing food whilst managing the environment. At these events the public will find out:
· Where food comes from
· Who produces it
· How it's produced
· About the farmer's role as wildlife steward
The farm shop will play host to a food expo where patrons can sample the finest of their local suppliers and discover alternative ways to source food from their own locality rather than through the supermarket. The food expos and walks will reinforce the links between the market towns, farms and the food chain.
Funded by Natural England, the on farm events will be free for members of the public to attend. The events set to take place through December are listed below. Another 6 will be scheduled throughout the South West in January and February 2008.
Sunday 2nd December 2007
10.00—14.00
Stourhead Farm Shop
High Street,
Stourton,
Wiltshire
BA12 6QF
www.stourhead.co.uk
The shop is situated by the National Trust car park, on the Stourhead Estate, set in the rolling Wiltshire landscape. Local conditions are ideal for growing food and bring you superb seasonal, local products, well-hung and traditionally butchered meats, cheese, fruit and vegetables, free range eggs and much more.
Sunday 9th December 2007
10.00—14.00
Real Grub Local Food Centre
Stokeley Farm Shop
Stokenham
Kingsbridge
Devon TQ9 2SE
www.stokeley.co.uk
Situated on the A379 and easy to find between Stokenham and Torcross on the Kingsbridge to Dartmouth coastal road is the Real Grub Local Food Centre with farm, farm shop and café serving a range of local products from fresh meats to local beers.
Sunday 9th December 2007
10.00—14.00
Wallaces Farm Shop
Hill Farm
Hemyock
Devon EX15 3UZ
www.welcometowallaces.co.uk
On the Somerset/Devon border, Wallaces is a working farm with a farm shop and restaurant open 7 days a week. They breed Highland cattle, red deer, North American bison and sheep on the Blackdown Hills. They also keep pigs, miniature ponies and pygmy goats to entertain children, and have a small museum featuring farm tools from yesteryear
