News & Events

First ever Blackdown Hills Food Festival

There will be a chance to sample the best of Devon and Somerset next month, at the first ever Blackdown Hills Food & Drink Festival.

The 9 days of events include cider, cheese and sausage tastings, a real ale festival, cookery workshops, and farm open days.

The festival gets underway on Saturday 24th May with a celebration of food and drink at Hemyock Parish Hall. This free family day out will feature crafts, entertainment and fun sports as well as refreshments lots of delicious produce to sample.

The opening weekend also sees a four day beer festival at the Half Moon Inn at Clayhidon. Plenty of local ales will be on offer along with live music in the garden, Blackdown bangers and mash, a barbeque and hog roast .

The Merry Harriers pub near Clayhidon and the Lamb & Flag Inn at Blagdon Hill will present special Blackdowns menus throughout the festival. Meanwhile, farmers and producers across the area will welcome the public to explore their farms, meet the animals and taste a range of produce. Among the activities on offer, visitors will be able to learn how to cook the perfect casserole, enjoy award winning cream teas, take a wildflower walk and even adopt a piglet.

Ruth Strange, who is putting on an open day at her farm near Churchinford, says:"There's all sorts of wonderful food produced in the Blackdowns - we want people to come and see how we do it, and have some fun! When people realise the quality and the taste of local food and drink, they become passionate about it, and that's got to be good for the environment, good for health and good for producers".

For more details about events, go to  www.blackdownhillsfoods.co.uk , contact Ruth and Nick Strange on 01823 601565 or email kateh@foodlinks.org.uk

Created on June 10th 2008

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