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“Feast and Make Merry” The Traditional Harvest Supper

At this time of year, farms and villages throughout Britain are celebrating the Harvest “safely gathered in”. Traditionally, this was an opportunity for farmers, farm labourers and their families to get together at the end of the harvest, loading the tables with abundant produce, washing it down with home made beer and cider and making merry with music and dancing. You probably recognise such scenes from Thomas Hardy novels.

Here in Herefordshire the tradition continues in villages around the county, often associated with a Church harvest service. But, it is not so often that town and city dwellers get the opportunity to join in such a farm celebration. Continue reading ““Feast and Make Merry” The Traditional Harvest Supper”

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Local Food and Drink Producers celebrate 2018 Great Taste Awards

Again, local food producers feature in this year’s Great Taste Awards. Organised by the Guild of Fine Food, the award is the acknowledged benchmark for fine food and drink. It has been described as the ‘Oscars’ of the food world and the ‘epicurean equivalent of the Booker prize’ – stars are awarded with three star awards representing the most outstanding produce. Continue reading “Local Food and Drink Producers celebrate 2018 Great Taste Awards”

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Local Grower Minimises Single-Use Plastics

Photo by Ed Mustafic

If we look to our local food growers, they are doing their best to provide their high quality produce in sustainable packaging, and not use single-use plastic – not always an easy ask as John Davenport explains.

At Flights Orchard Farm and through The Little Marcle Farm Shop, John tries to minimise the use of single-use plastic for his organic produce.

John says “If we don’t need to pack anything, we don’t! At the shop customers choose their organic fruit and vegetables, pay for it, and take it home in their own bags. Continue reading “Local Grower Minimises Single-Use Plastics”

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How Can We Reduce Single Use Plastic in Ledbury?

Ledbury may not be on the coast, but it does have fantastic countryside which suffers from plastic waste in our parks, on the hills and country lanes.

We live in a disposable society, but that doesn’t mean that we should continue to use single use plastics that take several hundred to thousands of years to decompose Vs biodegradable bags or corn-starch take away containers that can take between 3 and 6 months decompose. Continue reading “How Can We Reduce Single Use Plastic in Ledbury?”

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Accolade for Herefordshire’s Big Apple founder

Congratulations to Jackie Denman, the founder and driving force behind the Herefordshire ‘Big Apple’ festivals, who has been awarded a Gold Medal for a Lifetime Contribution to the Cider Industry by the Royal Bath and West Show.

Jackie, who started the Big Apple in the village of Putley in 1989, received her award from Bath and West Chief Executive, Rupert Cox, in the Orchards and Cider Pavilion on the first day of the Show. Continue reading “Accolade for Herefordshire’s Big Apple founder”

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Where do I find fresh local greengrocery?

Many will have been disappointed by the recent closure of Gladwyn’s greengrocery shop in New Street Ledbury at the end of February as a result of the retirement from the business of the proprietors. Gladwyn’s were good at sourcing as much local produce as possible, and offered paper (not plastic) bags, bird food and amazing free range eggs. One of our members wrote to us about the eggs:

… some of which were so large they didn’t fit in normal egg boxes. I hope you can find out who actually supplied them with these lovely eggs, so I can continue to buy them.

Continue reading “Where do I find fresh local greengrocery?”