Blog Local Food Events Collaborating Food for All Food Enterprise Farming Local Demand and Supply Food Waste

Almeley Screening of  “The People’s Emergency Briefing”

I urge you to engage and encourage as many people as possible to see it.

We had 2 really fun school trips at the Gorringes inspiring Lower Blakemere farmthis summer. A huge thank you to Heather and Phil and their amazing team..

We had a sell out at our first Feast on the Farm event in collaboration with Herefordshire Meadows! 

Wicton Farm, Bromyard, is an exemplar in high welfare, sustainable dairy farming and they need your help!

We're looking forward to seeing Herefordshire Food Alliance members for an in-person, summer social on the evening of the 8th June.
With huge thanks to Lou and the Growing Local Team for having us!

We're delighted to share our booking link for our first feast on the farm which will take place on Wednesday 10th June from 5.30 - 8.30pm. Join us at Caradoc on the banks of the River Wye courtesy of Dreda Darling to enjoy a true field to fork experience.

England's Land Use Framework (LUF), is the government's first coordinated plan for how land across the country should be used. It sets out how land can best meet multiple demands - from food production to housing, major infrastructure, water management and nature recovery. The plan aims to manage competing demands, seeking multiple benefits for any location, and to make sure the right land uses are priortised in the right places, including considering any knock-on effects. 

Farmers, conservationists and community members came together for a discussion on the topic of “Food vs. Nature?” hosted by Ledbury Food Group and Sustainable Ledbury. Panellists shared their insights and took questions from the floor, as the discussion explored some of the most complex challenges facing Herefordshire: how do we support thriving food production while restoring nature and protecting our rivers?

We recently announced our first date in the diary for our Feasts on the Farm project at Lower Blakemere Farm - exploring all things worms and composting, with HFA Feasts on the Farm to be serving up a delicious soup freshly made from local ingredients too!
Unfortuantely, due to circumstances beyond anyone's control, this event will now be postponed. We thank you for your interest, and will let you know as soon as we have more Feasts on the Farm dates to share.

This year’s Borderlines Film Festival — the UK's largest rural film festival — offered a rarebit treat: two short films from the BBC archives that reframed local food through a 50 year lens, and documented the role of food in local culture and identity.

The Herefordshire Healthy Schools Programme and the Healthy Tots Programme provide templates for teaching, planning, tracking and monitoring the health and wellbeing of children and young people in primary and secondary schools and early years settings.

This week there have been streams and lakes appearing where they have never, in my twenty years living in Herefordshire, been before. Driving anywhere has become what I imagine it’s like being in a monsoon; with pot holes becoming invisible in the multiple enormous puddles. 

Guest blog from alliance member and farmer, Heather Gorringe... Herefordshire has been chosen as the pilot county for an exciting new regenerative farming programme supported by the Royal Countryside Fund, working with Herefordshire Rural Hub and the Regenified certification scheme – and that is something our whole county can be proud of.

We are delighted to annouce that Herefordshire Food Alliance has been awarded Awards for All funding from the National Lottery to fund our Farm Link - Feasts on the Farm project. Hurrah!

We enjoyed a great evening with Colwall Greener Group on the 2nd December where we ran a Food Conversation for 18 of their members. 

We were delighted to attend the Sustainable Food Places Day of Action and Celebration in London last week. In attendance were 60 food partnership and community reps, 45 MPs, 19 people representing 8 food and farming NGOs (including SFP programme partners) and 2 civil servants. All in all a successful event for strengthening our network’s public affairs and advocacy voice and visibility.

Congratulations to the fantastic team behind the film, "Six Inches of Soil".  They have been nominated for the  BBC Food and Farming Awards Digital Creator" Award. 

Hopefully you managed to get to one of the ten screeenings of the film that the Alliance organised throughout the county.  The  announcemnet will be made at the awards in Bristol on 18th November... watch this space.

The team are currently exploring regenerative dairy. Hear all about it on their podcast.. 

Come and celebrate the fabulous Kingdom of Fungi on the weekend of UK Fungus Day [3-5th October] at Hay Castle

Jamie’s Farm is a charity set up 15 years ago by ex history teacher Jamie Feilden. The charity now runs seven farms throughout the UK, one being in Longtown. 

There are some great grants out there for creating gardens and nature spaces in your community! Here is a run down of what is available...

We are proud to share the news that John and Julie of Trecorras Farm near Ross on Wye were awarded the prestigious "Soil Farmer of the Year" award jointly by Farm Carbon Tool Kitand Innovation for Agriculture at Groundswell in July 2025.

A huge thank you to Mark and Kitty and the team at Perrystone Farm for allowing us to bring the years 5 and 6 from Fownhope Primary school on 7th July.

Sustainable Food Places, of which we are a member, have released a report that showcases how food partnerships are tackling the climate crisis.

Food Strategy

The Food Strategy Policy paper A UK government food strategy for England: Towards a Good Food Cycle: a UK government food strategy for England, considering the wider UK food system is available here: Read the full report here  

We are very pleased to let you know that Six Inches of Soil will be shown at the Courtyard Theatre in Hereford on Tuesday 3rd June at 5.45pm. Another great opportunity for those of you who have not seen it yet. You can make a night of it as the showing has been timed to fit with David Attenborough's "Ocean" which will be screened at 7.45pm. We are also delighted to say that Ellie Chowns MP will be recording a special video introduction to the film too. BUY TICKETS HERE!

Journey to regenerative Farming.. a regenerative agriculture mentoring project. Cherry Taylor from 'Action on Climate Emergency Monmouth' shared a brilliant report about three Monmouthshire farms who received mentoring from regenerative farmer Ben Taylor-Davies, aka 'Regen Ben', who was on our Six Inches of Soil panel in Llangrove last year, as well as hosting our Autumn 2023 Breakfast Feast.

Over the last two years, in 12 assemblies and now in community led conversations all around the UK, FFCC has brought together a diverse and representative group of people from all backgrounds, in a ‘gold standard’ process, to ask them: “So, what do we really want from food?”.  Your voices have been heard too. Herefordshire citizens fed in through an HFA hosted Food Conversation back in Summer 2024 with Ledbury Food Group at Burgage Hall, Ledbury as well as in Bromyard last Autumn. Blog post here on Ledbury conversation.

The anouncement is broadly welcomed, as is the governments intention to join up government departments to tackle the complex and urgent reform of the food system.

However, it is disappointing to see so little representation from civil society, public health, environment, nature-friendly farmers, food partnerships and pioneers of local and regional action that will be so integral to a national Food Strategy's success.

It was super inspiring to meet the team at Perrystone Farm who manage the stock there and at the neighbouring Brockhampton Estate. The team is made up by Mark, his wife Hazel, and recent recruits, Kitty and partner James, who bring their experience of working with other progressive farm systems in Herefordshire and beyond.

Herefordshire Food Alliance is part of The Marches Partnership which is a partnership with Powys, Monmothshire, Shropshire that seeks to create a food system for the Marches fit for future generations. We need your help with a bit of market research!...please share this with your networks. !

I’ve been reflecting on last year’s harvest as I sit in my vegetable plot planning planting season. I thought now was a great moment to remind ourselves of all the great events across the county that brought people together around picking, and gleaning fruit and vegetables and learning new skills in processing.

Our next Six Inches of Soil event will be in Blakemere hosted by Heather Gorringe of Wiggly Wigglers at Lower Blakemere Farm, Blakemere. HR2 9PX on Friday 14th March from 6-9.30pm. We'll be hearing all about the farm's involvement with the Ridge to River Nature Recovery Scheme alongside our usual format of delicious local food (from the Duchy Estate) and Q&A.

HFA is welcoming its new co-ordinator Kate Daniels!
Kate has a business background in IT management, has been a smallholder in Worcestershire for over 15 years and is a champion of field to fork, nose to tail, and local seasonal food.

Producer Spotlight on Chapel House Farm, Craswall

Simon and Anita Dale farm in Craswall and Much Dewchurch and are a great example of field to fork eating, closing the food loop in Herefordshire's Golden Valley. They are an inspiration!

Herefordshire have produced the first draft of a county wide nature recovery map – and now they want your input. 

As part of the national strategy for encouraging nature recovery all counties in England are currently producing maps showing the existing nature assets, corridors and stepping stones for nature and trying to identify land that has potential for nature recovery.

Six Inches of Soil moves to the west of the county on 28th February when we head to St. Peter's Hub, Peterchurch.

The farm to table restaurant  Native near Tenbury Wells on the border of Herefordshire -Worcester has been awarded its first MichelinGreen Star! It offers hyper seasonal, modern British, fine dining from wild food pioneer's Ivan Tisdall-Downes and Imogen Davis. Instagram:earthnative.

And having already been featured in the Michelin Guide, The Bull’s Head, in Craswall has been named the 33rd-best gastropub in the country, according to the Top 50GastroPubs

Burgage Hall in Ledbury was packed this Monday 27th January when over 90 people came to see our Ledbury showing of Six Inches of Soil. 

We were treated to a feast of local food, featuring vegetables and produce from Little Marcle Organic Produce, Growing Local, The Handmade Scotch Egg Company and The Fold Veg Shed. Followed by a brilliant Q&A with James Marsden (Gregg's Pit Cider and Chair of Herefordshire Climate and Nature Partnership Board), Joshua Davenport (Little Marcle Organic Produce), Harvey Clay (Showle Dairy) and Ed Godsall (Mixed arable farm and agritourism) and chaired by Patrick Wrixon - North West Herefordshire Farmer and chair of the NFU Members Association in the county and founder and chairman of The Cart Shed charity.

It's that time of year when the snowdrops are coming up and those of us who enjoy growing start thinking about getting some seeds in the ground, or at the very least planning the season ahead. Maybe you don't currently grow anything and would love to but don't know where and how to start?

Head to one of these seed swaps happening in the county over the next weeks to get your hands on and share seeds. Learn more about the importance of seed saving to safeguard our future year's of harvests on a local and national level. Have a chat with someone swapping their seeds and learn how to grow them!

At our recent Six Inches of Soil event in Ledbury, James Marsden (chair of the Herefordshire Climate and Nature Partnership) made the recommendation for everyone to read DEFRA's Food Security Report. If you haven't seen it already, you can Read the report here

Here, we are sharing Seven key points from Defra’s report summed up by Jez Fredenburgh from Agri Food for Net Zero

In the first Producer Spotlight of 2025 we are showcasing Marches Mushrooms!

Amie and Taylor started Marches Mushrooms during the pandemic, when their jobs were threatened by COVID restrictions. Amy was brought up foraging and cooking with her father who  ran the restaurant “The Penny Bun” (the mushroom also known as the cep!) in Hay on Wye. He was the inspiration to start their new venture. After a mushroom cultivation course they set up their business in a disused dairy and grow mushrooms strains which require a low tech, consistent summer/autumn light, temperature and humidity.

Join Ledbury Food Group for Ledbury’s Celebration of Breakfast over the weekend of Friday 31^st January, Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd February – the 13^th Ledbury Big Breakfast

17 local venues in and around Ledbury are taking part on one or more days in this event organised by Ledbury Food Group to celebrate our local food and drink producers and retailers and a healthy breakfast.  The event takes place at cafes, pubs, hotels, butchers and delis in and around Ledbury.

Wassailing is the ancient tradition of blessing the orchards, the apple and pear trees, with singing and dancing by the light of burning torches to encourage fruitfulness and bounty in the year ahead. The word itself originates from “waes hael”, meaning ‘good health’ in both Old English and Old Norse. It's traditional to make lots of noise with pots and pans in order to banish bad spirits. Hanging of cider soaked bread in the trees is said to attract birds who then eat the bugs and beetles which might damage the trees. 

After a break over Midwinter we are back on the road with Six Inches of Soil coming to Burgage Hall in Ledbury on Monday 27th January 6 - 9.30pm

We'll have delicious local food to eat, followed by the film and then into a Q&A with confirmed panel: James Marsden (Gregg's Pit Cider and Chair of Herefordshire Climate and Nature Partnership Board), Josh Davenport (Little Marcle Organic Produce) and Harvey Clay (Showle Dairy) with more TBC. Our chair is Patrick Wrixon - North West Herefordshire Farmer and chair of the NFU Members Association in the county and founder and chairman of The Cart Shed charity.

BOOK HERE!

See you there!

Below - some links explaining some of the recent changes around tax, and what else is being pushed for by groups advocating for the future of farming and nature:

An explainer from Ed Conway of Sky News - "Do we prefer to subsidise farmers in an effort to maintain our domestic food supplies at 60 per cent of our consumption? Would we rather ditch those subsidies and rely on imports instead? Should we favour the long-term health of the environment over short term food production?  These are chewy questions - and ones we really ought to be debating a little more. This isn't just about inheritance tax…"

https://news.sky.com/story/how-climate-change-and-red-tape-could-be-jeopardising-uk-access-to-affordable-food-13272511

Sustains explainer around agricultural inheritance tax - and what else is needed

https://www.sustainweb.org/blogs/nov24-farming-budget-inheritance-tax-apr/

A clear briefing on agricultural inheritance tax and how it applies to farmers from Herefordshire Rural Hub

https://herefordshireruralhub.co.uk/hcr-law-changes-to-inheritance-tax-and-capital-gains-tax-for-farming-clients/

We are recruiting!  (Please note that this is a re-advertisement, deadline now 15th Jan 2025 and is based in Herefordshire)

Herefordshire Food Alliance, connector of all things food in Herefordshire, is recruiting a coordinator.  

The Alliance is a broad network, instigating projects of its own (such as film showings, gleaning events, food conversations, good food database) and supporting other activity in the county towards good food - that supports people, nature and communities.   The county has achieved a Bronze ‘Sustainable Food Places’ Awardand the Alliance supports and shares information that will lead towards a Silver award in the next year.

A few opportunities to eat good food and share some community experiences this season...

From Talk Community - the Here for the Holidays Programme

"Our programme is free for all school aged children (reception to Year 11), who are eligible for benefit related free school meals.  There’s a fantastic range of exciting indoor and outdoor activities to choose from. There will also be a healthy meal on offer at every session attended, so no need to bring a packed lunch."

More info here

Other Events throughout the Holidaysare listed on the Talk Community Website.   Christmas Day sees a community lunch at Bishops Frome Village Centre, and a Salvation Army Lunch - see below for details.

Our Steering member Christine Hope  was championing Herefordshire, sustainability and Small Business at the House of Lords recently!

Christine runs Hopes of Longtown, village shop and much more! Here's what the Sustainability Lead of BT Group, funding sustainability webinars for small businesses said...

Would Food Alilance partners like to take up an offer for a small grant to run a great food event?  Talk Commmunity WOW Grants are now open...

"We invite you to expand your current offer, and provide additional sessions or events to support residents who may be feeling the pinch throughout winter.

Your offer must include the opportunity  for residents to come together, access a meal, engage in activities and receive information which can support them. The activity must be free of charge to enable access to everyone"

Check out our blog for ideas of events, from juicing to films...  Always with food!

One example here

https://www.talkcommunitydirectory.org/wow-grant/

^{One of the Alliance aims is to support farming and food production that is great for nature and the local economy - here’s one!  You can find more in our Buy Good Foodpage.}

Anna Jones – Trust Your Gut @jonestrustyourgut

Anna is a burst of energy, passionate about great food, passionate about health and passionate about how we can make our diets better. She makes a delicious range of products all based around the fermentation process. Fresh, natural ingredients go into her ferments, sold in recyclable, plastic free packaging all at her farm and orchard near Ledbury.

RAW Apple cider vinegar contains the “Mother” (it’s cloudy, unfiltered and unpasteurized unlike mass produced versions). She also makes kimchi, Kraut, and Slaw in an array of tantalizing combinations plus Mothers and Scobys to get you fermenting at home..

The ferments have numerous health giving properties to boost a healthy gut biome, boost immunity, regulate sugar levels and reduce inflammation, along with many more properties. See her website for more of the science  Trust Your Gut Watch this space for fermentation workshops.. 

^{One of the Alliance aims is to support farming and food production that is great for nature and the local economy - here’s one!  You can find more in our Buy Good Foodpage.}

Rod Lewis originally trained as a Cordon Blue chef in London, but has fine tuned his skills as a charcutier in Italy. He uses a whole pig to create his wide range of products that include Nduja, a spreadable, Calabrian style spicey salami, various chorizos (a regional take on the traditional Spanish sausage}, to Lomo embuchado (cured loin).

He sources his pigs carefully, and as locally as possible. Older pigs that have built up muscle ie, being free range, are better suited to his products, and impart a better flavour and structure. The meat and fat of factory grown meat is soft and blended together, whereas the muscle on an older animal that has been foraging is firmer and the fat more defined. Free range pigs that are allowed to roam of course also require lower inputs too.

From Growing Local:

The Southside Farm, Hereford.  Full Time – March to October 2025 £25,500pa

 We have a new position within our team for an ASSISTANT GROWER to support our head grower in cultivating multi crop vegetables for our veg box scheme and wholesale customers.

 This is an exciting, challenging and rewarding opportunity to support all aspects of running a commercial community supported agriculture (CSA) market garden in its infancy.

 We are looking for someone who thrives on outdoor physically demanding but rewarding work, can work to deadlines and is practical and willing to work and learn as part of a team. Previous experience is desirable but not necessary. However strong motivation, fitness and a commitment to work the whole growing season are.

From Rural Hub:

Nutrient Management on Farm - Manageing nutrients through grazing techniques and species rich grasslands.

The second in our Nutrient Management series,  join us on Monday, book via email

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Through St Martin's Food Share  - please let anyone know who could use!

3rd December

Basic Food Hygiene course – In person In Hereford, St Martin’s Church Hall. HR2 7RJ

9am – 4pm although times are a little bit flexible – but is a 6 hour course.

Event from  Cambridge Global Food Security, University of Cambridge

"Ultra processed foods (UPFs) are increasingly identified as a key driver of the global obesity crisis that is threatening many of millions of lives.

So why do we consume UPFs in such huge quantities? Can we feed the world’s population sustainably without them? Could they be a necessary evil?

Ultraprocessed Foods (UPFs) exist thanks to industrial processes and international long-haul transport, which favour homogenous, uniformly packaged, ready-to-eat, long-life foodstuffs. Good for global supply chains and ‘big food’, but perhaps less than optimal for human health.

Our panel of leading experts including Dr Chris van Tulleken, author of Ultra-Processed People and Baroness Walmsley, Chair of the House of Lords Committee on Food, Diet and Obesity, will discuss:

From Rural Hub:

"Interested in exploring diversication options? Come along to our farm walk at Merrimilk, Little Birch, where we will have a farm tour and take a look at the vending machine process. The farm also makes cakes and produces Wagu beef. We will be joined by Ellie Watkins of Watkins Rural, who will talk us through what needs to be considered when thinking of diversifying. Lunch will be provided."

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/diversification-farm-walk-talk-tickets-1064321186319

^{One of the Alliance aims is to support farming and food production that is great for nature and the local economy - here’s one!  You can find more in our} Buy Good Foodpage.

Daphne’s is full of sunshine, whatever the weather..

The owners Autum and Daniel (the team is completed by Lettice) are passionate about good quality, local, seasonal ingredients and both they and their suppliers are rightly proud of these partnerships. The imaginative starters, stand out delicious pizzas and sensational puddings are all delivered with warmth, and an infectious enthusiasm.

We were absolutely delighted for our coordinator to have represented the whole Herefordshire Food Alliance, and met both our Herefordshire MPs today at parliament. We were part of a Sustainable Food Places day of Celebration and Action.

It feels great to have their support and interest both locally and at a national level to grow a good food movement! We talked about the steps we can take together around hospital procurement, building positive communication together amongst everyone on Herefordshire and about taking action towards what we want - more good food in Herefordshire!

^{One of the Alliance aims is to support farming and food production that is great for nature and the local economy - here’s one!  You can find more in our Buy Good Foodpage.}

Katie Cordle, Long Lane Dairy - Sheep’s milk yoghurt, sheep’s cheese, halloumi

Katie started making halloumi during the pandemic when she began experimenting with the sheeps milk that a neighbour  https://www.shepherdsicecream.co.uk/ was able to provide.. She now makes two cheeses and yoghurt which are sold in shops or direct to restaurants. (Crème fraiche, and ricotta are by products going direct to chefs).

A webinar on recent budget announcements and how they affect all areas of Farming...

"It's all over the media and doesn't show any sign of abating soon – so we're hosting an 'emergency webinar' to try and bring some clarity.  This is not a tax advice webinarfor farmers, but rather a look at what's happened, what the impact could be on the farming sector, and what this might mean for its ability to transition and mitigate climate change. 

One story has dominated the media since the Chancellor’s Budget: The decision to reduce Agricultural Property Relief for farming businesses. Many farmers have been very vocal about the potential impact of this, and there is a lot of fear that it will lead to the break up (and break down) of family farms.

One of the Alliance aims is to support farming and food production that is great for nature and the local economy - here’s one!  You can find more in our Buy Good Foodpage.

Mick and Alice Westrip of Rhos Organic are an inspiration.

They run their shop/deli in Knighton and their organic market garden (a couple of miles outside Knighton) with just one other helper, Adam, who comes just two days a week.

Their vegetables are sold in the shop, and in 35 weekly boxes that are collected, or delivered to collection points including Presteigne where they also supply Daphne’s restaurant. 

From Herefordshire Wildlife Trust:

*Vacancy: Café Team Member Queenswood Country Park & Arboretum*

Full time/ permanent; £11.44 per hour

"We are looking for an enthusiastic person to join our café team at Queenswood Country Park and Arboretum.

At Queenswood café we pride ourselves on a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, excellent customer service, and good, wholesome food made with locally sourced ingredients. As well as regular breakfast and lunch service we cater events such as corporate lunches and seasonal events, so there’s plenty of variety.

Herefordshire Food Alliance is excited to, once again, be working in partnership with  The Conquest Theatre, Bromyard to bring a ‘Food Conversation’ and Community Juicing Event to Bromyard.

The Food and Farming Commission’s Food Conversation says:
“A lot of people claim to know what ‘people’ think. They say, “people don’t want a nanny state” and “people choose to eat junk food” and don’t want to be told what to eat. But, has anyone ever actually asked you what you REALLLY want from food?

This is your opportunity to tell us.  Join us at The Conquest Theatre between 11am
and 1pm on Saturday 16 November.

Almeley Village Hall was packed to the rafters on Monday as our Six Inches of Soil Roadshow continues! We paired up with Almeley Green Group this time for what was a brilliant example of a whole community getting together in celebration of the food and farming that is on their doorstep, from the community lunch during the day right to the mammoth washing up session at the end! The Green Group have a number of priorities - working around Energy, Nature, Waste, Water Quality and now Food! and meet monthly to talk through existing and future projects. 

101 people from all over the North West Herefordshire community came to feast on local produce, see the film and hear from local farmers Colin Powell and Lucinda Lewis and Grapevine in Kington owner, Martin Peek.

...In good local food in Herefordshire right now?

If you're reading this, you're either interested in or working towards good local food in Herefordshire.  Please help us build a brilliant picture of all that's going on so that we can celebrate it, support it and do more of it!

It will take a very small amount of time and we're happy to receive your thoughts in any way - a quick note+ contact details, a document you already have, or a link. 

Here's the form!  You may see it below or click the link.

Dean Storey and his dedicated team at Monkland cheesemakers make 6 varieties of cheese, using raw milk from Grove farm, Brimfield and the original recipes designed by the previous owners. Kass and Mark who now run the shop and café.

The Little Hereford cheese was taken from a book of recipes by Helen Yield, Herefordshire’s chief dairy maid in the early nineteenth century.

You can take a fascinating tour of the Creamery  where you’ll learn about how the nuances of the pasture, climate, temperature and bacterias create the different flavours and textures. The raw (unpasteurized) milk allows for more diversity in the flavour.  It’s a true art form..

VEG BOX CO-ORDINATOR, HEREFORD

Part Time – 20 hours/week

We have a new position within our team for a CO-ORDINATOR to support our growers in delivering our new veg box scheme and wholesale veg sales.
This is a varied and exciting job based in part at our garden in South Wye and part working at home. It is a fantastic opportunity to join our newly expanding community organisation. We are looking for someone with excellent organisational, IT and customer facing skills who can confidently work on their own initiative and help drive our business forward.

We are gearing up for our next showing of Six Inches of Soil as part of the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust's Apple Day Celebration at Queenswood Country Park Sunday 20th October. The whole day runs from 11am - 4pm with the film showing at 1pm - 3.30pm including Q&A with local farmer Rich Thomas who will give his reflections on the film and an insight into the joys and challenges of farming in Herefordshire.

Tickets for the film and Q&A are £7.50 and can be bought HERE on the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust's website.

A session about the Wyescapes project is happening soon - unfortunately it's across a morning of many meetings for the Food Alliance team and steering group, so please head along and let us know how it goes! We were lucky to be updated at the Marches Food and Farming event last week but would love to hear what you think and how this ambitious long term project is going.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wyescapes-food-nature-water-workshop-tickets-1029811422687

Thursday 24th October 2024 9.30-12
Shell Store Hereford HR2 6SR

We were concerned to read the news recently that nature-friendly farming support will potentially be cut in the next budget.  Across the board - in policies relating to food access, farming, climate, rivers and more, nature-friendly farming has been recommended as a solution and as guidance in so many areas.

The Nature Friendly Farming Network, Pasture for Life and a number of other organisations are supporting this petition from the RSPB- we are also supporting it.

We have contacted the two Herefordshire MPs alerting them of both the issue and the petition, and will bring it up with them when we meet for the Parliamentary Day of Action being organised through Sustainable Food Places next month.

Producer Spotlight: 100% Hay - Vegetables, Fruit, flowers, eggs, ferments and goats cheese.

We're planning another film showing in Hay on Wyeand will have some great food producers there:  here's a spotlight on one of them!

You can find other producers that you can support on our Buy Good Food page.

Joe and Sein run a market garden adjacent to the River Wye just outside Hay. They have been trading at Hay Market for over 12 years selling virtually all their food less than a mile away from where it is grown.

There are PLENTY of apple events coming up in the next month, and plenty of ways to find out about them!

We'll be involved in a special event linking apples to how we farm, how we build nature and how we buils soil in Herefordshire - join us at Queenswood for a fun day out on 20th October!

A few other links below, and we'll keep adding updating - please shout if there is an event that specifically highlights sustainable growing and processing - thanks!

From Rural Hub:

"With funding from the @countrysidefund, we are delivering the Farm for the Future programme through a series of business and environmental workshops aimed at supporting farmers and land managers/owners to navigate and take advantage of shifting agricultural policy.

 Sign up to the programme now  and learn more about the programme and event dates"

https://www.royalcountrysidefund.org.uk/how-we-help/family-farm-businesses/defra-future-farming/

After a cracking start  (THANK YOU Bromyard!)  We're heading up to Hay for the next Film Food and Farming event.

Tickets are already going fast and this is not a huge venue, so get in quick if this is local for you - you'll find out lots about people making brilliant food just down the road from you!  BOOK HERE

If not - don't fear, there are more showings coming up.

• Six Inches of Soil - Film, Food, AND Chat
• Hay Castle
• Thursday 3rd October 6pm

Our Six Inches of Soil project got off to a flying start in Bromyard last Friday 13th. The ominous date did not deter 120 people turning out to enjoy the film, food and Q&A.

A big thank you to our panel: Claire Howlett, Louise Manning and Andrew McRobb for providing such valuable insights, the audience for being so engaged, Legges for providing the food and finally to the awesome Conquest volunteers who helped make the night happen without any glitches, what a team!

On Sunday 15 September Herefordshire Food Alliance took part in a conversation focused on food, organised by the 3 Counties Doughnut Economics group.

In brief, Doughnut Economics is a visual framework, shaped like a ring doughnut, combining the concept of planetary boundaries with the complementary concept of social boundaries. To find out more watch this short film.

During the day, a group of around 20 people from the counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire shared their thoughts, ideas and concerns about issues facing food suppliers, food producers and communities.

Report here, quick summary below...

"This report draws on four sessions with farmers and growers about their lived experience and research on basic income and the UK farming sector. It outlines the current challenges in UK farming, how a basic income could uniquely meet the needs of farmers and perhaps most importantly, lays out the key areas and big questions the work to date has highlighted that should form the basis of further work.

At a glance:

Reproducing part of an article here, and potential courses below it, that seeks to answer a question very connected to our experiences of food producing in Herefordshire.  Full article at Didi Pershouse's website

 "I write often about the soil sponge. To me, it is the foundational infrastructure that makes life on land possible. However, there are many other factors that influence how much, and how quickly, water soaks into the ground—versus running off and creating both flooding and drought, and creating many other problems. If we want to take a living systems view of a place, we need to consider more than just a single factor.

Why it matters whether rain soaks in, or runs off

Consider this initial list of just a few of the things that are affected by a place’s ability to soak up water—whether rain, melting snow, floodwaters, or irrigation water—and hold it in the ground:

From Growing Local - news of the Big Eat and regular lunch club, both below...

Our next Big Eat is on Saturday 28th September and we'll be cooking up an all-Herefordshire feast! Soups, chilli, jacket spuds, homemade bread rolls, crumble - all using our Growing Local veggies, plus any donations of locally grown fruit and veg - if you have any to donate please do drop off at the The Kindle Centre next week - thank you!.

Please do join us anytime from 10am until 2pm at the Big Eat. Lots of cooking (and washing up!) activities to take part in, plus a jumble sale, books, bric-a-brac, tombola etc.

A new report and webinar: quote and details below, here are some headlines.

‘Provide capital and revenue support to expand and enhance sustainable food partnerships and hubs across Wales from 2025-2035’

‘Universal access to a healthy diet – enabling everyone to access healthy and more sustainable food to address trends in diet-related diseases and poverty.’'

• Secure a just transition for farmers and growers with long-term financial support and extended tenancy agreements.
• Prioritise local, sustainably produced food through public procurement to develop local markets and distribution chains.
• Implement a land and marine use framework and national food strategy.
• Reduce the dominance of livestock production and incentivise growing a wider range of sustainable crops to replace imports.
• Enhance food literacy within the education system.

Message from our umbrella organisation New Leaf...

"Would you like to connect and nurture projects in Herefordshire and beyond?

A few weeks ago one of New Leaf's umbrella projects had a need, and another supplied....

The Food Alliance posted on our Instagram about wheat - a Ukrainian group part of the Krayina projectwere planning a cultural float for an event and needed bouquets of wheat.

So, the Food Alliance being a broad network about food, we put the word out there.

The Marches Real Food and Farming Convergence 2024 is bringing people together to build a resilient and regenerative food future across the Marches. We will be gathering on 4-5^th October at Babbinswood Farm near Oswestry to share, learn, co-create and celebrate. Check out the programme, which covers agroecology, regenerative farming, building strong local supply chains, policy change and food equity. 

Book your place here. Come for the day or camp or stay locally and join us for the whole event, you’ll be sure of stimulating discussion in a beautiful environment, with good local food and music.

The Food Alliance will be there, reporting back on happenings in Herefordshire - please share anything you'd like before the event to Rebecca - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

... and facilitating a session around how we link tourism, sustainable food and nature. What's worked in the Marches, what can we do more of? Looking forward to learning lots, and hope to see you there!

https://www.mrffc.uk/

Click on the event for more info - if there's no link, do check the blog for more information of upcoming events.

If there is an event that we can partner on, or share, that fits with Alliance aims, please get in touch

Thanks!

A few weeks ago we posted about wheat - a Ukrainian group in Herefordshire were planning a cultural float for an event and needed bouquets of wheat.

Chapel House Farm sorted us out! THANK YOU!

Thanks to the umbrella of New Leaf - the organisation that keeps the food alliance ticking- meaning we can connect projects in this way!

https://www.herefordshirenewleaf.org.uk/

Keep an eye out for some great food pairings at h.Art venues across the county as Herefordshire Art Week starts... Canon Frome Courtwill feature some local veg from Tuston Farm and Showle Dairy milk, available year-round from vending machines in Tarrington and Yarkhill.

Plus you can see a display on River-Friendly produce in the gallery!

h.Art starts on Saturday and the display will be on with veg stall on the weekends. 

More on local produce hereand the impact for all of us of supporting it!

Pasture-based, organic, local - Ethical Consumer sets out in its latest issue what to look for in your milk and other dairy products.

https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/food-drink/shopping-guide/ethical-milk-brands

We are lucky in Herefordshire to have so many farms and vending machines that we can buy direct from - and it makes a real difference. Both to local economies, to the ability of farmers to shift towards more river-friendly systems of farming, and to the wider landscape and people's wellbeing.

You can see local producers to support right here, now organised according to product type, hope that's helpful!  Watch this space for a map soon!

If you're a local producer and not on this list please get in touch!

7th September sees the annual Food extravaganza in Leominster and also coincides with the big river action day - and a perfect opportunity to support River Friednly Food!

Buy, and spread the word about, river-friendly food in Herefordshire at Leominster's Food Fayre with organic veg and flowers from Farmer Ben, plus inspiring from-scratch veggie activities from Kids Kitchenand more.  

Please email the Food Alliance and let us know if you can come and connect at this event, by talking about river friendly food, chatting to others, and sharing other river friendly food events coming up.

More info about exhibitors and programme here.

https://leominsterfoodfayre.weebly.com/exhibitors.html

https://www.facebook.com/leofoodfayre/

Two events through We are Farming Minds - for actively farming families and women in Herefordshire

"FARMING FAMILY FUN DAY - Kindly hosted by Henry & Sue Lewis 

15th September

A family fun day aimed strictly at actively farming families 

BEAUTY EVENT

Calling all actively farming women.. Take a well deserved break from the farm!

4th September

St Martin's Food Share in Hereford have a job going - please be in touch with them if this is something for you!

"St Martin’s FoodShare are delighted to receive central government funding to grow how we can help people. Over the next 6 months we will be working to increase the number of volunteers on our team, particularly in the areas of advice, support and signposting.

To help us deliver this program as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund we are looking to recruit a part time (13 hr/week) Capacity Builder (job share potential) for six months to drive the delivery of this project.

For more information and an application form please message us, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call David on 07563 382872. (Although David will be on holiday 2-10th August so might not answer!)

A bit more info here:

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=832501782337602&id=100067333627218&rdid=SIWpf9SWzqiytMW8

Would you like to work with the Food Alliance to make the changes we need in our food system happen?

We are an alliance of hundreds,  a steering team of thirty and a paid team of three very part-timers - for our capacity, we have quite a big reach!

We have plans across seven different topic areas in Herefordshire, and a huge number of partnerships to make and maintain - in order to make the shifts in our food system that we all so badly need.

We have volunteering roles across the county, and currently also have paid opportunities for freelance workers who have the skills, experience and passion needed to get some of our plans actioned!

Do you have a passion for the environment, your local community or food?
If the answer is yes, or you’re just curious to find out more, why not Join our volunteer team and help us to make sure that healthy, sustainable produce is not going to waste.

The Alliance is gleaning, gathering, processing and cooking throughout Herefordshire, bridging the gap between food surplus and communities.
We have opportunities to participate in projects in Bromyard, Colwall, Hereford, Ledbury, Leominster and beyond, and are looking for volunters to carry out the following roles.  Keep looking here as the dates are confirmed and please get in touch if you know of surplus!

https://herefordshirefoodcharter.org.uk/blog/picking-and-processing-project-2024

The Nature Action Network is planning a host of actions on September 7th that support the river in Herefordshire.   If you'd like to be involved, and potentially focus on river-friendly food - contact Francis Weeks at the Wildlife Trust.  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Trust have a map hereof local groups that are part of the bigger network...  a good way to find local people to team up with?

As part of the weekend - you could also help amplify the Food Alliance work going on right now...

Herefordshire Food Alliance presents the launch of a series of showings of Six Inches of Soil with Conquest Theatre Bromyard!

Friday 13th September 6-9pm

The film follows three farmers on the first year of their regenerative journey to heal the soil and transform the food system from an 11^th generation arable and sheep farmer to a small scale market gardener. As the trio of young farmers strive to adopt regenerative practices and create viable businesses, they meet seasoned mentors – John Pawsey in Suffolk, Nic Renison in Cumbria and Marina O’Connell in Devon – who help them on their journey.

Ticket includes a beautiful local river friendly buffet and Q+A with super-local farmers and growers!

We're so happy to be working with Leggesto provide the food, themselves working towards Pasture for Life status for their farm (a great way to show river friendly farming methods) and alliance steering members Wicton Farm for the Q+A.  If you are a local producer and interested in being part of the event, please get in touch.

To book for Bromyard, go here

https://conquest-theatre.co.uk/ticketsource/

For more about the other showings, tastings and Q+As with local producers - see here.

...from Growing Local...

We are looking to recruit new members for our produce shares! We started our veggie scheme in early July and are now able to expand to more customers who want to share in our harvest

Local, seasonal, chemical-free and sustainably grown veggies from Herefordshire available for collection from our farm (on the Great Western Way path/cycle route - between Newton Farm and Grafton Lane) or hub points in Hereford (The Kindle Centre or Castle Green) each Wednesday of the year

We have two sizes of box - a HALF SHARE (£48/month) or a FULL SHARE (£70/month)

Click on the JOIN OUR CSA page to sign up and we will be in touch shortly to set you up from August or September

https://growinglocal.org.uk/join-our-csa/

Free event, featuring foraging...

"Come and experience a Festival like no other! We will be attempting to record as many species of plant, animal and fungi in one day. There will be local experts on hand to help, activities to try and something for every age of wildlife enthusiast. You can stay for as long or as little as you like and there is no charge for any of the activities on offer."

  https://www.herefordshirewt.org/events/2024-08-11-festival-wildlife

The Food Alliance will be joining in with the fun of Nest Fest on August 17th - there will be games, a dog show, music and of course great food.

Come and talk to Natalie about the 'free food trail' and what's ahead in late Summer /Autumn, find out about all the River Friendly Producers available in Herefordshire - PLUS you can do a treasure hunt about good food and maybe win a Nest gift voucher! 

Completely free, more info here.  

A couple of recent articles of interest:

News in Farmers Weekly of how one company is dropping dairy producers providing 'low volumes of milk' - wonder how this fits with other pushes towards supporting farmers to move towards stock levels that build soil and regenerate rivers...

Plus a useful article from The Guardian explaining the cost to the consumer and the producer of huge food corporations, and how we might break monopolies up. 

From Alison at Future Farms...

www.farmgarden.org.uk/future-farms

"We’re developing three 3-6 hectare plots with dwellings for the establishment of agroecological fruit and veg growing enterprises. Looking for growers with two years experience

Here’s more information and details of how to make an expression of interest: www.farmgarden.org.uk/sites/farmgarden.org.uk/files/v4._eng_future_farms_grower_criteria_.pdf

Closing date for enquiries is 14^th August 2024"

Our pioneering ‘Picking and Processing’ Project continues...

We are delighted to let you know that, we're planning another series of picking, gleaning and processing events across Herefordshire.

 More about volunteer roles here

Members of the Alliance steering team had a real treat last Friday to meet in person, reflect and plan.  And eat!

Not a single picture was taken - sorry, we were too busy  chatting!  But plenty got done and some draft plans were made.

Please join us in this last bit - have a look at where we got to and let us know what you think about priorities for the next year - 2024 into 2025.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1uoZmSckXh34_yPsnc4_GdR4MdwjDzKUdY-lhznbeUKE/edit?usp=sharing

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust is on the lookout for new trustees.

The Wildlife Trust works for nature in all parts of Herefordshire - within our farmed landscape, heritage orchards, and other places of food and nature.

If you'd like to help shape how this happens, perhaps this is the role for you!

https://www.herefordshirewt.org/jobs/become-trustee-wildlife

News from Growing Local, specifically a request to support a planning application, with their newsletter this month.

Do sign up to keep in touch.

"We have an urgent requestfor our readers - please support us in our second planning application which is now live on the Herefordshire Council portal. This application is for our much needed track across the site so that our growers and agricultural vehicles/deliveries can access our two main fields. It is very strictly not for the public use, but is essential to conduct our growing activities and site development. We would be extremely appreciative of a supportive comment - the deadline is Saturday 6th July. Thank you!

As ever there's plenty going on at Growing Local beyond our veggie growing, school visits a plenty to our gardens, volunteer days, lunch clubs, community lunches, this Saturday's Big Eat.....wholesale veggie selling.  This week we open bookings for our action packed summer holiday programme of childrens and family workshops. Please do visit our Instagram and Facebook pages for lots of reels and photos of all our exciting garden developments and events."

More here:

https://mailchi.mp/growinglocal/growing-local-news-shoots-39-july-2024?e=6d703d4549

Herefordshire Food Alliance is supporting the Manifesto for the Wye:

"We call on the Governments of the UK and Wales to establish a single, cross-border approach to tackling the pollution crisis across the Wye catchment."

https://www.wyemanifesto.org/

The River Wye is dying, being destroyed by pollution resulting from the intensification of agriculture and release of sewage. Increasingly desperate calls have been made for meaningful action to be taken: in 2022 by Herefordshire Council, then 2023 at a roundtable convened by the Wildlife Trusts, and in 2024 in court by River Action. It has not happened.Therefore:

We call on the Governments of the UK and Wales to establish a single, cross-border approach to tackling the pollution crisis across the Wye catchment.

The Living Room Hereford - a hub for the whole community including people experiencing homelessness, a community larder and now an award-winning cafe (!) is looking for a community facilitator.

"We are currently seeking a new member of our team to be the welcoming face of our Community Hub.

 As a new charity that has expanded quickly in difficult times, we want to ensure we continue to build as an asset based community organisation.

The Community Hub Facilitator will be responsible for triaging people who contact us for support and referring them in house or externally, depending on their needs.

Herefordshire Food Alliance has written to all General Election candidates in Herefordshire to share the brilliant work that has already been achieved by this vibrant alliance, show the evidence for policy that supports partnerships across the UK and ask them what they'll be doing in the next Government to make it happen!  The full letter is below, with any responses we recieve.

Have a look at Sustain's 'Manifesto Tracker'- exploring "political party commitments on food and farming" and evaluates how these pledges align with the Sustain Manifesto 2024, with assessments provided by specialists in various themes such as farming, climate and public health.

... And a blog series - "If I were a Food Minister" from the group behind the Food Conversation.  It crops up again and again in conversations - what would YOU do if you were a Food Minister...? 

Our questions to candidates, and any replies received, are below.

Dear General Election Candidates for Herefordshire!

I am writing to you on behalf of Herefordshire Food Alliance. We are a network of groups, organisations and individuals working towards a thriving and sustainable local food economy – for healthy lives, communities and environment. We’re linked to Sustainable Food Places nationally and proud to say that Herefordshire as a county holds a Bronze Award.

It was exciting and heartening to be part of the national #thefoodconversation on Monday night, right here in Herefordshire.

After a hearty snack of 100% Herefordshire soup, local cheeses, bread and chutneys - we got stuck in to the conversation about our food system. A video set the scene and we then heard from two local producers about where they are in the 'food system'.

What do people want? Well, after looking at many things working, and not working about food right now it was pretty hard to whittle down the very many thoughts in the room but a few themes seemed to run across all the tables and chats.

Policy change- regulating ultra processed foods, and supporting both independent and local food production. But a clear call for policy to be co-created by ALL of us!

The Herefordshire Healthy Schools Programme is being launched later this month ready for schools to start in September.

The programme provides a template for teaching, planning, tracking and monitoring the health and wellbeing of children and young people in primary and secondary schools.
The programme aims to help support and celebrate the good work in schools around the following four themes:

• Emotional health and wellbeing
• Physical activity
• Healthy food, drink and oral health
• Personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education (schools only)

The programme includes a free accreditation scheme where schools can be awarded Healthy Schools Status after demonstrating that they can meet
criteria set out in the above four themes.

We're excited to be part of an Apple Day event this autumn with a difference!

Along with Herefordshire Wildife Trust, cider and juice makers, and many others we'll be celebrating the role our county's most famous fruit has in keeping our countryside healthy.

A Celebration of Nature-Friendly Food and Traditional Orchards
20th October 2024
Queenswood Country Park from 11am

HWT say:  To celebrate National Apple day, we are bringing together local cider, perry and juice producers to shine a light on the critical role of sustainable agricultural practice in safeguarding our precious ecosystems. You're invited to immerse yourself in a vibrant gathering, showcasing an exceptional variety of regional fare, informative talks and apple related activities. 

The weather is looking great for Hellens Garden Festival this weekend and we are delighted that Kirsty from Little Batch will be serving up delicious foraged mocktails using Herefordshire flowers and herbs as well as milk from the Forest of Dean based Chase Farm https://chasemilk.co.uk/

"For Hellens, most of my mocktail and iced tea menu will include foraged, garden grown or locally sourced ingredients, e.g. elderflower & lemon (balm & verbena) iced tea, rhubarb & rose ginger fizz, honeysuckle & hibiscus cooler."

Kirsty had been thinking of changing her milk supply for a while when we got in touch with her to see if we could help connect her with producers. "This initiative at Hellen’s is a good and timely reminder to make the switch!"

Kirsty is also conscious of the waste that can be inherent with the food vending industry "I’m also investing in a soda stream for the caravan to reduce my bottle recycling" isn't that a great idea?!

https://www.littlebatch.co.uk/

We are delighted that a local coffee maker, Adam Brierly at Ramble On Pop-Up Cafe will be swapping his milk to sustainable dairy - Merrimilk for the upcoming Hellens Garden Festival 8th and 9th June.

Herefordshire’s Greener Footprints Week is back from 8 – 16 June 2024, as part of Great Big Green Week.

This year it’s all about making some simple swaps in everyday life, to help make a difference for the climate and nature, including our Herefordshire wildlife.

There’s also a fabulous opportunity to win a bike!

Here at the Food Alliance we're obviously very keen on food swaps that are local and river friendly - check out other blog posts for details of some great swaps that local traders are making at Hellens Garden Festival  and you can find out more about local food here

Shepherd's Sheep's Milk Ice Cream is one of the fantastic local producers coming to Hellens Garden Festival 8th and 9th June https://hellensgardenfestival.co.uk/. They strive to use as much local fruit for their delicious flavours as possible...

"We are lucky in Herefordshire to have such good soft fruit, and we take advantage of that when developing our flavours. This Hellens Garden Festival we will be bringing a sorbet made from Windmill Hill Strawberries, and a Blackcurrant Ripple with blackcurrants also from them. These are such beautiful fruits and their flavour is really brought out in these ice creams. We hope that you enjoy them. At other points in the season we are able to take advantage of the gluts in peoples gardens, producing flavours such as Rhubarb and Ginger ice cream, Discovery Apple sorbet, and Damson and Sloe Gin ice cream.

We will be at Hellens Garden Festival in June, doing all sorts of things!

We'll be signposting to all the great vendors who have sourced local river-friendly food for the event, and telling the story of where it comes from.

Well be chairing the farming panel, and we'll be enjoying the food waste panel too, with Alliance steering team members on both!

More of what's on here:  https://hellensgardenfestival.co.uk/whats-on/

What do we really want from Food?

The Food Alliance is excited to be working with Ledbury groups and a national body to bring one of their Food Conversations to Ledbury.

The Food and Farming Commission's Food Conversationsays:

"A lot of people claim to know what ‘people’ think.  They say “people don’t want a nanny state” or “people choose to eat junk food” and don’t want to be told what to eat.  But has anybody ever asked you what you REALLY want from food?"

"Join us for an unforgettable evening as the team at Carriages, in partnership with Hancocks Meadow Farm, hosts an exclusive event featuring a four-course meal crafted from the very best Herefordshire produce.

Indulge in the exquisite flavours of Valley Drover's cheese, the succulent finest lamb, and the renowned Oak Before Ash cider, all directly from Hancock Meadow Farm, a 50-acre family-run small holding in the heart of Herefordshire.

Each dish will be a testament to the farm's dedication to ethical and sustainable practices, showcasing a joint commitment to the "from field to fork" philosophy."

Can you take a half hour to make a comment on the Draft Local Plan?

The Local Plan for an area guides all decisions about planning and land development.   It has to be pulled together with evidence, and by consulting with residents and groups.  Currently, Herefordshire's draft Local Plan is being consulted on.

The Food Alliance has looked at Herefordshire's Local Plan, against what we have agreed we are working towards in Herefordshire.

As you know - we are a broad network of groups, organisations and individuals working towards a sustainable local food economy for healthy lives, communities and environment.

LAUNCH - BROMYARD 13th September

We are so pleased that we have a packed calendar of events now, with ten confirmed locations for our Six Inches of Soil roadshow!

Venues will range from village halls to community cinemas, we even have a castle in the mix!  More dates and locations below.

Herefordshire Food Alliance will be working with parishes and environment groups all around the county to hold collaborative food and film events over the next 8 months, centred around food and farming in Herefordshire. 

We can't wait to get started on a roadshow of great food and stories, celebrating the soil and how we use it here in Herefordshire!

 All events will have their own local flavour but will include:

Are you a new food business in Herefordshire? Ledbury Celebration, being held on Sunday 7th July, is offering 50% off stalls for any food business producing or using local Herefordshire produce, which has started in the last 12 months. Email Griff at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out more and book your stall.

This year’s event will again be held in the historic setting of St Katherine’s, Ledbury by the very special 15^th century Master’s House and including Ledbury’s new Town Square area.  Alongside the local produce market, the event will include

We were proud to be part of the Marches Forward Partnership event this week, bringing Herefordshire produce and the story of where it all came from along with our three other food partnerships too!

Herefordshire Council is working with Shropshire, Monmouthshire and Powys to create 'cross county, cross country and cross party' relationships that will build nature, transport, housing, skills, health, tourism - and of course food.

It was heartening that so much of the talk was about sustainable food, and of this being an essential solution into the future.

Farm Soil Workshop:  Niels Corfield

"Looking to improve soil health, increase on site biodiversity, or struggling with issues of wet lying ground? Wanting to grow more grass in drought and with less fertilizer?

You are invited to come along to our upcoming farm carbon workshop with regenerative agriculture consultancy Niels Corfield - How poor soil and pasture health is bringing systemic weaknesses to grazing operations and what to do about it.

We have been learning this week about how we share the impact of food partnerships - like our alliance here in Herefordshire.

There are partnerships across the UK and we all feed into a big database of info.

Food partnerships instigate, coordinate and deliver change across the whole food system and becuase we all have similar goals (but different ways we do things locally) it means we can see the bigger picture of the impact.

You can see more about the pretty impact hub that shows what YOU are doing in Herefordshire within the whole bigger picture here

https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/15241306/

Spar Community Cashback Scheme:

SPAR Community Cashback is back!

Want to help a local community organisation in need? Nominate them for our Community Cashback Scheme and they could receive up to £10,000 in funding!

For more detail and to apply online visit www.spar.co.uk/community-cashback. Full T&C's apply.

From Ecological Land Co-op:

Farm with us on the Gower peninsula

We are looking for landworkers to take on a One Planet Development (OPD) plot at our Furzehill site on the Gower Peninsula. Furzehill is home to the Rowan Tree, the first One Planet Development smallholding in Swansea, as well as Cae Tan, a well known Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) business.

Herefordshire's Local Plan is out for consultation. Can you help with reading and responding, from a Good Food perspective?  You'll get a tasty lunch!

"The local plan sets out the planning framework for the county for the period to 2041 and covers issues such as housing provision, the economy, retail and town centres, infrastructure provision and the environment. It will also set out policies by which planning applications will be determined, in addition to allocation land for new housing and commercial development and associated infrastructure."

"Little Magical cafe up for Sale or Rent phone Bill On 07775703924 for details..."

We know of great local producers selling in to Rocket Cafe in Hereford, it would be great to keep that going wouldn't it, and even do more...?

https://www.facebook.com/rocketcafehereford

Get in touch if you feel the same and have any ideas to share!

20th April Stroud - 21st April Cheltenham - 9th May Worcester - 10th May Ross on Wye

"Everyone should see this show" George Monbiot

Three Acres and a Cow is back in the area...  a show that connects the Norman Conquest and Peasants’ Revolt to contemporary issues via the Enclosures and Industrial Revolution, drawing a compelling narrative through the people’s history of England in folk song, story and poem. Come and share in these tales as they have been shared for generations.

https://threeacresandacow.co.uk/shows/

ECHO Herefordshire have a Wednesday cook club!

"Most of our activities are suitable for people with moderate or severe learning difficulties, but we will try to support anyone who wishes to take part in our activities, including those with mental health difficulties and physical or sensory impairments."

"Cooking with Company (formerly Cooker Club) is the ECHO cookery project for all the budding master chefs out there!

Learn how to cook meals that are both tasty and healthy.

Ledbury Food Group are planning another day of celebrationof great local food in July - if you would like the Food Alliance to showcase you, or a producer you know, please get in touch!  Let's get the word out about how much good food there is and how buying food food direct can have a real impact on our rivers, nature and our own health!

Plus

Every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday in Ledbury is an opportunity to Eat Together at Ledbury Community Hub- more below.

I'm sure many reading this will agree, as they know it in their bones - allotments are great.  You've met friends, got good produce, from yours or an enthusiastic friend, or just felt better to get on your plot after a stressy day.

Well, the Brighton and Hove Allotment Federation have helped us out by actually quantifying it - showing that financially, for Councils and communities, allotments are an investment that bring multiple, quantifiable benefits.   These benefits include achieving net zero targets,  aiding nature recovery and reducing waste.

Love Food Hate Waste’s annual campaign Food Waste Action Week is back.

This year - it's ‘choose what you’ll use’ by buying your fruit and vegetables loose instead of packaged. Research from Love Food Hate Waste has shown that we could reduce food waste by 60,000 tonnes just by buying loose fruit and veg!

And we could go one better here in Herefordshire - let's buy it unpackaged and from local river-friendly farms!

With food waste costing £1,000 for an average household of four every year, Food Waste Action Week aims to help shoppers save money and waste less by shopping for loose produce.

Check out the Easter Holiday Activities listed on the Talk Community Website, and continuing 'Winter of Wellbeing' Activities too.

Most of the Holiday Activities programmes include food, and some this time will have a recipe bag to cook with families.

Easter Holidays:

https://www.talkcommunitydirectory.org/keeping-well-staying-healthy/easter-holiday-activities-2024-1/

Holiday Activities Programme:

https://www.talkcommunitydirectory.org/here-for-herefordshire-holidays-programme/

Winter of Wellbeing:

https://www.talkcommunitydirectory.org/winter-of-wellbeing-wow-activities/

Hereford Food Bank have been an active and supportive member of the Food Alliance since our start.

Here's a bit more about them, what they're up to right now, and how you can help.

In 2023  they provided nearly 100,000 meals.  Much of this is in 7-day food packs, incorporating a range of food.

They have recently started using the 'Bank the Food' app which has really helped the issues of having mountains of one thing, and not enough of another. They would absolutely recommend it to others!

The Food Farming and Countryside Commission have a new film and some news...   What do you think? Email the food alliance with your thoughts and we'll include them in this post as we recieve them.

"In a new film, we hear five expert perspectives on why food is critical to tackling many of the challenges facing us today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRDhAlrWl0g

Herefordshire Rural Hub's event:

"Due to the demand for our last SFI workshop we are holding another! The event will include details of the scheme, the range of options, how to apply them on farm, how to meet evidence requirements and a demonstration of how to make your application online"

Book here, and more  events from Rural Hub can be found at their WhatsOn page

https://herefordshireruralhub.co.uk/whats-on/

At the end of February Friends of the River Wye arranged and hosted an event attended by a range of stakeholders both responsible for, and whose actions impact the River Wye.  The list is in the description of the video and included Avara Foods, Noble Foods, the Environment Agency and Farm Herefordshire.

"More than 500 people packed out the Blake Theatre in Monmouth to hear the latest solutions to tackle the crisis on the Wye from farming groups, food processors, NGOs and the chairs of the EA and NRW. The clear message from the night was that we have had plenty of time and advice - now the regulators need to provide consistent enforcement of the rules."

Link to watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hFL6TK6MXA

"Our Grow Your Own Food Stall is open Fridays March-July 10-12. Pop down and pick up some seeds, trays or get some help and support. Please feel free to drop off unwanted seeds and hand tools.

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=738812758349831&id=100066633413851

The composting website Wiggly Wigglers have a Farm Tour in Herefordshire...

"Welcome to Wiggly Wigglers Farm Tours! 

Join Farmer Phil on an inspiring journey through our sustainable and regenerative farm practices. Each tour lasts approximately 1.5 hours.

Our Farm Tour Includes:

Guided Walk with Farmer Phil

• Explore Our Regenerative Journey: Dive into our transition towards sustainable farming and our aim for Net Carbon Zero by 2030.
• Soil Composition Insights: Learn about the importance of soil health for our ecosystem and the environment.

We were very happy to talk about Food Alliance work and how it ties in with Herefordshire's climate goals at the Herefordshire Green Network March event, sharing the work of the Climate and Nature Board.

Forging a Path to Net Zerobrought us up to speed with the work towards net zero across all areas, and was attended by 80+ people.   You can view it here

The Climate and Nature Partnership Board was set up as a result of a citizens assembly on climate and comprises volunteers from various areas supporting the council with targets.  Rebecca, the Food Alliance coordinator sits on this board and food alliance priorities reflect the board's priorities.

The Farming / Land Use update from Steve Klenk is at 25 mins, our Food update is at 37 minutes and before that is a whistlestop tour from the Chair of the Climate and Nature Board of all that's been done, and what we are parctically talking about when we are planning zero carbon, nature rich.

Check out Growing Local's full newsletter here...   Including a tree planting day, and more shared meals...

"Somehow or other we are nearly at the end of February after another industrious month for Growing Local and the Southside Project. Our children's education garden is making solid progress - it's fantastic to see vegetable beds in place ready for planting and seeds have now started to be sown this week by school groups in our recently installed polytunnels. Our growers Katie and Laurie have been extremely busy planning and buying equipment, materials and seeds to start the CSA. Katie tells us more about how and when the CSA will operate below - we're all starting to get just a little bit excited about our impending first harvest of veggies! If you are free this Saturday then please do come along and help us on our special tree planting day. "

"We are looking for new session leaders for our Herefordshire hub.  Whether you have prior experience running family cooking sessions, you’re a parent that has attended sessions and would like to get involved or you have no experience but share our values we’d love to hear from you.  Full training will be provided.

At Kids Kitchen we support family cooking from scratch by running sessions for young kids and their carers to cook, and offering training and resources to those that want to set up sessions. 

Our session leaders lead highly interactive, engaging sessions aiming not just to cook with kids but to engage everyone in an activity that builds community too. If this is something that you’d like to get involved with, we’d love to hear from you.

Are you passionate about creating a thriving and sustainable local food economy here in Herefordshire?

Opportunities are coming up to work alongside the broad alliance working towards healthy, food, communities, planet:

Freelance project work, administration, bookkeeping -keeping the transactions recorded, and the various strands of the Food Alliance's work supported from farming, to community meals, to supply chains, to directories of great food.

Volunteer Directors for our umbrella organisation New Leaf- seeding and supporting new projects (that turn into things like this Food Alliance!) for 14 years.

We're also still after a team of people happy to get their teeth into policies that support local food - coming up will be consultation on the Local Plan.  It's necessary stuff, so we need people who LOVE reading long documents, we know there are some out there!

For more info, please drop Rebecca an email.  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   Thanks!

Whitecross School are looking for food providers:

"We were hoping to further develop the festival this year by seeing if we could invite some local/vegan/vegetarian/eco food providers to come and sell their food at the festival.  It will be at Whitecross School from 2.45 to 5pm on Friday 19^th April.  Would you be able to forward this to your network?   If they are interested in getting involved, they should contact Christina Stokes, our Marketing Manager at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  We will be promoting the event in advance via our social media channels and we’d hope to include stall details/logos etc."

(Pictured:  the school campaign to stop single use plastic drinks bottles)

"Tuston Market Garden in Herefordshire was started from an arable field in 2018. We
have created a productive veg plot, 3 polytunnels, soft fruit and flower areas,
meadows and woodland. We are certified Organic and practice no-dig methods,
selling our produce at farmers markets, local veg boxes and restaurants.

Role Overview

We are looking for a Seasonal Grower to work alongside Alice (the Head Grower)
and other family members. The role will be 3 days (22.5 hours) per week from mid
March to September.
The role will include propagation, bed preparation, planting, weeding, compost
production, harvesting and markets, as well as other infrastructure activities as
required.

The Household Support Fund provides vital support, helping families in crisis access essentials, receive advice and support, and get practical help with things like furniture and white goods. 3.8 million households rely on it nationwide and it has provided support in Herefordshire for both individual households and frontline organisations, including the Winter of Wellbeing activities happening at the moment.

We’ve joined more than 120 other organisations to call for an urgent extension to the Household Support Fund for at least the next year, so that families facing hardship, hunger, and unexpected costs are able to get the help they need in their communities.

https://www.barnardos.org.uk/news/joint-public-letter-need-urgently-extend-household-support-fund-120-organisations

You can add your support to the campaign by the Childrens Society here.

https://act.childrenssociety.org.uk/page/144136/action/1?ea.tracking.id=SaveCrisisSupport

Growing Local's Lunch Club is at Tupsley tomorrow - share it throught their Facebook, let's spread the yummy love! 

https://www.facebook.com/growinglocalhereford

Plus  The Kindle BIG EAT is on Saturday, all welcome.  

"This Saturday we shall be at The Kindle Centre cooking up a winter warmer feast! 10am to 2pm.

Please do come along and join us to help cook, wash up, serve or just eat - everyone extremely welcome. Big Eats are free to attend - but donations from those able to chip in are gratefully received. The EF Bulmer Trust are kindly supporting our Big Eats this winter. Please bring along an apron if you have one as we're in short supply!

Any local producers up for telling the story of their local, plant-based  produce at this May Market? 

"Following our very successful event back in Sept last year, we are excited to announce that we will be organising our 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒!  Supported by Hereford Vegan Events and Hereford High Town markets team, we want to make this another great success, so please do share our post far and wide!

Plenty of activities through half term and beyond as part of the Winter of Wellbeing - details, dates, booking here on the Talk Community Pages

"Fun and free activities during the winter months! This is to support the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of families during the cost of living crisis, by enabling them to access free activities. All events will include free hot food and drink. Families will be able to access information and advice to support them around the cost of living. "

Support from Herefordshire Council (Public Health) is available  for community projects doing the following:

• Creating lasting meaningful connections for people to improve emotional wellbeing and sense of community belonging
• Strengthen reach to families in need

Food-related activities have a big positive impact in both these areas - through connecting to nature, improving community connection, improving health - if you're working in these areas and would like support on a bid, or to be part of a bid please get in touch.

Grants of up to £1,000 or between £1,000 and £20,000 are available. 

https://www.herefordshirecf.org/funds/herefordshire-together/

Opportunity from the Wildlife Trust:

"From cider-making to green burial sites, Risbury Court Farm is a very special place.

With 250 acres around the ramparts of the iron-age hillfort of Risbury Camp is a traditional Herefordshire mixed farm of hops, cider fruit, cereals, sheep and pedigree Hereford cattle. Having been farmed since 1843, this picturesque spot has been in the same family for decades. The farm is now run by Richard Thomas and his father, a fifth-generation farmer who is somewhat of a maverick in his regenerative approach to agriculture.

Richard is an accomplished speaker and with his extensive knowledge of regenerative farming techniques, explains how long-term, sustainable food production can be delivered not only profitably, but also with huge co-benefits for soils, water, biodiversity and the climate.

We are starting off the new year at the Ledbury Community Hub with the first of our 'Eat Together' events 

Saturday 27th January 12pm and 2pm

A great chance to meet people in your area!

We really believe in the power of shared food. Food can bring people together, start conversations and make everyone feel welcome It can be very hard to meet new people, so we designed these shared meals as a way for anyone and everyone in the local area to come together. Reserve your space via our website today! https://ledburycommunityhub.org.uk/

All food is on a 'pay what you can' basis and there are free vouchers available to food bank users at the Ledbury Food Bank. 

We have two seatings, one at 12PM and one at 2PM - see you there!

Check out Growing Local's Newsletter for January,bit of a summary:

• Next Big Eat is 10th February at Kindle Centre
• Friday Lunch Clubs in 3 Hereford Venues
• Volunteering at the Growing Site on Tuesdays
• And they're fundraising for benches and tables.

You can sign up to their newsletter on their website

https://growinglocal.org.uk/

The County Plan is the key strategic document for the council that outlines the ambitions and objectives over the next four years and highlights how those ambitions will be delivered.

There is a consultation open to everyone until 8th February to share your thoughts. 

We attended one of the online consultations and were heartened to see that "Champion agricultural practices which minimise pollution and maximise biodiversity" was a very popular priority. PLUS Healthy Lifestyles, and a focus on Market Towns too.

Food weaves through so many of the things we want to achieve as a county!

The Wildlife Trust in Herefordshire has a new group in Leominster and there are loads of food links to be made...   Join them for thier launch!

"Join us to celebrate the launch of a new Herefordshire Wildlife Trust branch in Leominster for the residents of Leominster and the surrounding areas.

Monday 29 January 2024,  7pm

Hereford Seed Swap

Saturday 3rd February 10-2, The Courtyard Hereford

Ideally pack your saved seeds in small envelopes and add the essential details:

• name of the plant
• variety if known
• year of harvest

Commercial packets or partial packets are fine too, of course, but please make sure they aren’t too old. Nothing more disheartening than going to the trouble of sowing only to get a no show!

Cuttings/plants are also welcome on the table, as are gardening books. Don’t forget a small bag to take your seeds home in.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the Food Alliance goals this year, from picking up surplus, to distributing food, to education, to great meals, to composting food, to growing it - so many things that link us all.  To end the year with great recognition of all your workhas been brilliant and it's a pleasure working to connect and support good local food.  

We will be taking a break til January, and heading to the Oxford Real Farming Conference 4th/5th January (where we'll share some of the things we find out, both here and on  Instagram if we can!) so we'll be back in our emails by 9th.

Please enjoy a restful time and we look forward to seeing you to make more great food happen for people, countryside and communities here in Herefordshire in 2024. 

The Food Alliance works all year round on the 'food for all' mission - it's a pretty tough one at the moment as many of you know.  Bbut you will find many opportunities for community meals, food surplus, and food banks this season on the Talk Community website under events, under the food projects advice post and also in the Winter of Wellbeing listings.  There are also many kids activities which come with a healthy meal also please share for anyone that may appreciate this.

You have many people shouting for your custom at this time of year and here is another trumpet -  for the great local and nature friendly produce that Herefordshire can offer.

When you are getting your last minute bits, please check out your most local producers.  It will save on postage!

Some ideas of where here on our Buy Local blog:

https://herefordshirefoodcharter.org.uk/blog/local-food-and-drink-producers-herefordshire

There's also: experiences - a great meal at a good food cafe, some credit for those special bits in a farm shop, and some excellent cider, beer and spirits available - so much of it shouting about how very beautifully produced it is!

We've pulled together all the various brilliant activities as part  of the Autumn's Picking and Preserving activities.

 A huge thank you for what we've achieved!

Whether that be... picking apples, making juice, chopping apples, providing bottles, crates, space to store fruit, a supportive producer with excess who doesn't want to see it going to waste, entertaining with music at an event or being one of the amazing community groups, food banks or community larders we have supported.

From AHDB:  Please let the food alliance know if you take part in this!

"Practical cookery lessons are critical – but the cost of ingredients can be a problem.

Are you a teacher at a secondary school in England and do you have your school meals provided by Taylor Shaw, Edwards & Blake, or Elior? If so, please read on to find out more about this very special offer and how you can take part.

From We Are Farming Minds:

"Our next FREE Mental Health Awareness Workshop will be on Wednesday January 17th at Services for Independent Living, Leominster Enterprise Park, 1 Owen Way, Leominster HR6 0LA.  This workshop is open to anyone living or working in/with the farming community in Herefordshire.  

You can choose from either a morning session or afternoon:

Morning session - 9.30am to 12.30pm

Afternoon session - 1.30pm to 4.30pm

Booking is essential - please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and let us know if you would prefer a morning or afternoon session.  

When you book, please also let us know if you have any accessibility requirements or if you need any accessible course material.

https://www.wearefarmingminds.co.uk/events/mental-health-awareness-workshop-11

If you're in Hereford and surrounds...

"We have a new batch of winter newsletters printed on gorgeous recycled paper by @solopress - please let me know of your group, organisation or venue would like some to distribute.
The newsletters offer an overview of our entire project, detailing a little of how the veggie CSA will work, our children’s garden and cook school plans - plus our current lunch clubs and volunteer opportunities
#newletter #growinglocal #growinglocalcsa #southside #southwye"

GARDEN EDUCATION OFFICER, HEREFORD

Part Time Job Share (20 hours/week)

We have a new vacancy for a GARDEN EDUCATION OFFICER to join our newly expanding not-for-profit organisation. The postholder will lead on a varied programme of children’s, youth, schools, family and adult garden-based workshops from the new Growing Local Education Garden in South Wye, Hereford. 

If you have prior teaching experience, a passion for growing vegetables and horticulture and an enthusiasm to work with people of all ages to nurture a love for growing then please do get in touch.

From Herefordshrie Community Foundation:

"With 28% of Herefordshire households now living in fuel poverty (according to latest figures from Herefordshire Council),  High Sheriff Robert Robinson has launched Herefordshire Community Foundation’s 2023 Surviving Winter appeal. It is raising money to help the county’s vulnerable households and vital community spaces to stay warm over the colder months. 

To mark the launch of the appeal, Robert Robinson donated his Winter Fuel Payment whilst on a visit to Ledbury Food Bank commenting, “Over the next few months, many households will be facing real hardship. HCF’s Surviving Winter campaign acts as a bright light on a dark day as it gives local residents the gift of warmth. Grants are given on the basis of a professional referral, such as from a food bank or Citizens Advice. This means that every penny raised is directed to those who most need it across the county.”

http://www.herefordshirecf.org/appeals/fuel-poverty-appeal/

The ‘Talk Wellbeing’ service to communities around Herefordshire is offered via pop-up clinics in Hereford and the market towns, as well as via a specially adapted van that will visit many sites throughout the county.

Our experienced and friendly healthcare professionals will be out and about to offer a range of NHS services aimed to help people improve their health and wellbeing.  These services include:

• How to reduce risk of heart disease and stroke
• Cholesterol checks
• Blood pressure checks
• Practical advice on how to make changes to your health
• Signposting to services and community groups that are available  (including community food /growing projects)

Nominations are open for this year's Slow Food awards.

Herefordshire were well represented last year with Peter Cooks winning Best Baker.  Last year's awards are here

and the form for this year's nominations is here.

"This year, the awards will work a little differently. You get to vote for your favourite in your nation (England, NI, Scotland or Wales) and whoever is in the top three in each of the categories in each of the nations will be shortlisted as a potential winner. A crack panel of experts in each nation will then take your shortlist and select the final winner from who you have chosen."

Let's get voting!

We're SO PROUD of this! So many people are working towards joined up, good value, nature-friendly food in Herefordshire and this shows how worthwhile that hard work has been!

The County of Herefordshire is a BRONZE Sustainable Food Place!

Over 85 diners enjoyed a 3 course meal at The Bookshop Hereford in the last of three “100% Herefordshire” Autumn Feasts on Tuesday 14 November.

As well as great local food they were treated to a surprise announcement that the County has achieved a Bronze award from Sustainable Food Places - recognising the collaboration and hard work that’s gone into all areas of the food system in Herefordshire, from food banks through community gardens to restaurants and farming. 

*DEADLINE SUNDAY 3rd DECEMBER* - Sorry!  Please shout if you have an idea, and maybe others in the Alliance can help if you're new to funding. 

The second round of the Rural Enterprise fund is also open with a longer deadline, do get in touch about that too and we can match each other with support. There is also the Business Enterprise Fund that might suit food businesses (not producers)

The Herefordshire Visitor Experience Fund is a capital grant scheme that has been funded by the UK Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF). It aims to support the tourism sector through providing business growth for small or micro businesses, job creation and the development of tourist infrastructure.

A Herefordshire survey is showing an increase in awareness among farmers and farm managers is showing a big increase in awareness of the challenges around phosphate issues.  Those that replied have a much higher awareness of the issues plus think it is important too.  

The questions were written by the Herefordshire Rural Hub and distributed by Farm Herefordshire partners.  Full Survey Results here.

If you'd like to learn more about phosphate issues and other nature friendly farming solutions - have a look at some of the links in the 'buy good food' post.

https://herefordshirefoodcharter.org.uk/blog/local-food-and-drink-producers-herefordshire

GET FUNDING, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT FOR YOUR OWN ON-FARM RESEARCH

Are you a landworker looking to carry out your own research, but scared to take the plunge? Or maybe you're already experimenting on your farm but could do with some extra support...

Small-scale farmers and landworkers across the country are pioneering innovation in farming and land work, but they are rarely acknowledged or rewarded for it.

To address this, we are excited to announce the second phase of 'Experts in Your Field', an LWA initiative that works to support grassroots, community-led research in agroecology.

NEW MILK VENDING MACHINE  | A brand new milk vending machine has opened in Herefordshire!

The vending machine has opened in the village of Tarrington! It also stocks various other items, including organic cheese, butter and chocolate!

We'll add it to the growing map of places to buy great sustainable food in Herefordshire - if you know other places not on the map, please get in touch!

https://herefordshirefoodcharter.org.uk/blog/local-food-and-drink-producers-herefordshire

And if you've got some skills in making siomple databases talk to maps, especially using Airtable, please get in touch and help us out as we'd like to make it so much better!

The Department for Work and Pensions’ Household Support Fund (Fund) is money given to councils to support residents with the cost of essentials including food. It was first launched on 6 October 2021. It has been extended several times and it’s worth £2 billion over its lifetime. It has become a lifeline for councils to be able to support our most vulnerable residents and for projects in food emergency networks to be able to support people to access healthy food.

More information about how it's used in Herefordshire can be found here-  this weekend for example there's a free lunch event at Baron's Cross in Leominster.

https://www.facebook.com/events/362417866454557

Barnardo’s, the Children’s Society, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Independent Food Aid Network, End Furniture Poverty, North-East Child Poverty Commission, Lloyds Bank Foundation and Turn2Us issued the following statement about the fund's need to continue:

As part of National Tree Week, Leominster Community Orchard (Millenium Green, below the Priory Church) will be holding a Pruning session

Volunteers welcome

Saturday 25th November 10am – 1pm

Instruction provided, bring gloves and tools and wear strong shoes

More information from 07961795466

https://hgnetwork.org/leominster-community-orchard-3/

Info through HGN - sign up to their newsletter!

In the week King Charles launched an initiative linking food waste and food poverty, it feels like a good time to remind ourselves what is going on in our county linking - tackling - those two things.

As well as the recent gleaning projectmaking good use of surplus crops, there are initiatives to share surplus across a number of community larder / food projects.  Check out info here of how to share your surplus. 

Coming up: 

There are low cost lunches using surplus in three locations in Hereford - details here 

Leominster Food Share every Wednesday

The Zero Waste Stall in Ross

We have a growing map here where you can see surplus and community food projects near you (it's the same map where you can find out local food to purchase, there are different layers)

"Come along to our friendly Lunch Clubs and cook together a delicious and hearty lunch which we'll sit down and eat together after we've prepared it.

Lunch Clubs are relaxed and fun opportunities to chat and make new friends and share and learn new skills and recipes. No cooking experience necessary! The dishes we cook will depend on surplus and seasonal produce available and will change each week.

Marches Climate Action will be taking local action lobbying big businesses to stick to their own Environmental policies next weekend.

"We urgently need support for an action on 25 November targeting Nando's and Tesco and their profiting from  decimation of the River Wye and lands in South America.

We need help to cover an outreach stall in High Town 9.30 - 4pm tbc

AND

Help with leafletting /petition/placards outside Nando's and Tesco's 10.30 - 14.30 tbc

We really need decent numbers for both of these activities and they may not go ahead unless we can guarantee the necessary volunteers.

Please donate an hour or more of your time to one or both of these actions via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

And please come to two final-preparation meetings: this Sunday 19th 5pm and next Tuesday 21st 5pm link: https://join.skype.com/EngjCYTwdgFi  (just click on this or copy and paste - no need to download or install skype)

Thank you.

A joint follow-up event with the Marches Real Food & Farming Conference:

"During the Marches Real Food & Farming Conference (MRFFC) we had a session on Collective small-scale mixed farming and heard about the experiences at Canon Frome Court, and this day will kick off with a farm visit to find out more. There will be an opportunity to see what is going on and meet people involved.

 We will be hearing more about Herefordshire Food Alliance events to promote local sourcing, their success and challenges and enjoy a lunch sourced from Herefordshire farm produce will be provided by HFA. There will also be tea and cake.

 In the afternoon we will be taking forward our thinking on bioregional food and farming and looking at the wider context of localized economies and cultures. This will involve mapping and action planning, building from what has emerged from the MRFFC People's Assembly.

Come and share your ideas.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/canon-frome-court-collaborative-food-systems-change-tickets-746934149147

Outline of day

Arrival from 9am for a 9.30 start

• 9:30 Farm tour and discussion on collective small-scale growing
• 12- 1 Local sourcing experience sharing - Herefordshire Food Alliance
• 1-2 Lunch - networking incl with community members
• 2pm Marches bioregion - mapping and planning workshop
• 4pm Close

We have room for 20 people, plus an extra 10 for afternoon only".

"The food was SO scrummy and the atmosphere truly wonderful!"

"Absolutely blown away. The food, the company and the work that has gone into it..."

We are reeling from really the best we could hope a celebratory feast of Herefordshire sustainable food could be - thank you! Our final Autumn Feast was quite special.

The Bookshop Hereford were a professional and beautiful host, setting off more than 15 wonderful producers and making their food pop - a welcome drink and three courses that truly shone.  With many of the producers in the room, we were able to thank them personally and the food tasted so much better for it!

Many chats around food, partnerships, business ideas and time to hear the brilliant music and stories too from Tim and Chez at the Wye Valley River Festival.

If you were unlucky enough not to make it to the event - take a look at the list of producers here who will be happy to help you recreate the flavours in your own home!  You won't have Bookshop chef Callum on hand though I'm afraid!

Boost Your Business: Securing Local Media Coverage - 10-12, Mon 4th December

Did you know more people read and trust the local press than the national newspapers?

If you‘re a local food enterprise, one of the best ways to reach new customers is to get featured in your local paper, or be interviewed on regional radio or TV. So what are media outlets looking for and how do you approach them?

Join PR professional Robin Clegg (Curve Communications) for this popular workshop aimed at local food organisations, from growers to producers to retailers to community orgs. We will cover what makes a good news story; the difference between reactive and proactive media; and choosing spokespeople, images and quotes. Plus top tips on writing a press release, how and when to pitch to journalists, and how to get your message across succinctly in press or broadcast interviews.

Tickets for this 2-hour webinar are £20 - Book your space here via Eventbrite.

News from Sustainable Food Places:

"Community groups, charities and even small groups of neighbours would be able to cultivate fruit and vegetables on suitable council land in what campaigners say will provide healthy local food, boost mental health and revive neglected spaces.

Hull councillors unanimously passed the “right to grow” motion that means the council will produce a map of suitable land it owns and help those who want to grow food on it overcome practical obstacles such as insurance or provision of water for the plants.

Ledbury Food Group will be in the High Street 18th Novemberpromoting some great local food businesses...

"We will be at Ledbury Saturday Market on 18^th November between 9am and 1pm featuring three local producers and their wares, free fresh soup and soup recipes – great food for the Autumn – and information about the Ledbury Food Bank.

Come along and meet our producers:

• Dragon Orchard – fruit and preserves
• Skittery Apple Juice – you may know them as Jus
• Little Marcle Organic Produce – local fruit and veg producer/supplier

And enjoy Ledbury Market"

If you're a supporter of the Food Alliance and can chat to people about our work too, please pop along!

Watch again:  The Sustainable Food Places webinar on steps that we can take towards rolling out school meals for all primary children.

"London, Wales and Scotland are rolling out school meals for primary school children, while a handful of local authorities are taking innovative steps to expand current provision of free school meals.

Come and hear from the trailblazers on their journeys toward school food for all, as well as the Children’s Food Campaign and their Say Yes Campaign.

Find out what your area can do next toward a universal approach and an end to the postcode lottery on school meals.

https://www.sustainablefoodplaces.org/events/roadmap-to-action-universal-free-school-meals/

From Growing Local:

"Our next BIG EAT community lunch is on Saturday 25th November at The Kindle Centre

This time we shall be cooking a selection of curries, samosas and fruity puds

Come along anytime from 10am to help cook together a delicious buffet curry lunch

All welcome including families (we always have lots of children’s cook activities)

Two opportunities to support food producers in difficult situations from Landworkers Alliance

STORM BABET - SUPPORT PALESTINIAN FARMERS

STORM BABET FLOOD APPEAL

Last week, amid an array of red weather warnings, Storm Babet hit the east coast of Scotland. Farmland across Angus and Dundee has been devastated by flooding, caused by extremely heavy rainfall and rivers bursting their banks, and three people have reportedly lost their lives. Many farmers, growers and landworkers, both from within our own membership and the wider farming community, have been severely affected.

Another great feast!

Thanks to the Open Arms group in Kington for hosting

And to Kington Kleen for much apple pressing

And to Madame Zucchini for her vegetable fun

And to lots of people of all ages that got stuck in to making pumpkin gnocci + colourful slaw  - so tasty!  Kids Kitchen's Gnocci recipe is here.  

"We have changed our Volunteer Day hours a little - we'll be on site each Tuesday between 10am and 1pm (weather permitting). Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register your interest in volunteering on our Growing Local Gardens site and for details of how to find us.

Thanks folks,Lou and the Growing Local Team"

**THIS EVENT IS NOW FULLY BOOKED**

You are invited - to the final Autumn feast creating 100% Herefordshire food experiences this Autumn.

From Hereford’s Fields & Pastures To The Table - featuring original stories, and music, reflecting Herefordshire's natural beauty and farming landscape.

Many thanks to everyone who came to Breakfast on the Farm on Sunday to enjoy food, to talk about their own produce, and to find out more about farming as a solution yesterday!

Chef Simon served up a superb two-course breakfast with honey, berries and oat groats to start, all washed down with juice Kefir and a herb tea blend!  It didn't end there with a plate of cow-lloumi, sausage from within 20 minutes away, Herefordshire baked beans and eggs from the farm - with a seasonal twist of braised apple in place of tomato.  Tasty.

We heard from a few of the people that grew and reared the food and Ruth shared the journey of some of the produce - including some that we weren't able to source in our current system.

Good news - this produce is available, and being sold direct right here in Herefordshire so you can recreate our breakfast feast with all the details below - whether you were there or not! 

LEAP offers funding and mentoring to small agroecological businesses which are producing good food for their local communities.

The Loans for Enlightened Agriculture Programme (LEAP) supports small-scale agroecological food and farming enterprises with funding and business mentoring. LEAP offers a mix of loan and grant.
Businesses we support

We support all types of agroecological and community-based food and farming businesses, from micro-dairies and bakeries to ethical supermarkets and veg box schemes. We work with people who share our commitment to transforming the food system at a grassroots level. Watch our short video (2 min 37 sec) to hear from some of the farmers, food producers and retailers we’ve supported.

https://realfarming.org/programmes/leap/

Reasons to be cheerful 😁

A few highlights from our picking and processing partnership diverting produce from wasteful to useful

many creates picked, many litres of juice (60 litres in one session!) slices for the freezer...

All good for the winter at Ledbury Food Bank and The Living Room Hereford

The Alliance is about both reducing food waste and food for ALL, so this is a double win.

PLus we have so many more links now too with orchards, growers, community projects. More plans will come!

One more opportunity to get stuck in- central Hereford, this Saturday. Join us!

PLUS if you help out with this or any community initiative in Herefordshire we're inviting you to breakfast, FREE next weekend!!

Next weekend, come to the Breakfast on the Farm - our AUtumn Feast Launch- completely on us. Here's the freebie link. Transport from Hereford, Ross and Ledbury provided.

Let us know you're coming before Tuesday 17th!

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Hosted by Berkshire/ Buckinghamshire Wilife Trust, this free event links our food system to nature and vice versa.

If you'd like a similar event here in Herefordshire, perhaps with our wildlife trust and connecting it to the specific issues we have like the health of our rivers, please be in touch.

"We are delighted to welcome Professor Tim Lang and Vicki Hird to a special webinar following the BBOWT AGM. Our food systems are reliant on thriving nature and a stable climate. This webinar will look at how nature's decline and our food systems are linked, and what we can do to create a more resilient food system in the UK.

Tim Lang is Emeritus Professor of Food Policy at City University's Centre for Food Policy. Hill farming in Lancashire in the 1970s formed his interest in the relationship between food, health, environment and culture, which he's worked on ever since. He's currently working on how to improve civil food resilience and defence. 

Vicki Hird is a campaigner and strategist who has been working on environment, food and farming issues for more than 30 years. As well as her role at Sustain, she is working on agricultural issues with The Wildlife Trusts movement. Her recent book, Rebugging the Planet, pays homage to insects and other invertebrates, examining why they are so essential to our ecosystems."  

https://www.bbowt.org.uk/nature-food

Ecological Land Cooperative and Landworkers Alliance

Join the ELC as an Ecological Land Farmer

"We’re on the hunt for passionate landworkers and ecological entrepreneurs who are ready now, or will be ready in the next 1-2 years, to build an ecological growing business on an ELC plot.

We don’t expect you to be ready to go today. We are very keen to hear from you if you are passionate and committed to gaining enough experience to set up a small farm business. This business could be any land-based enterprise – from fruit and veg, to animal products & dairy, fibre, fuel and medicine.

Riverford Organics have created a petition asking all supermarkets to commit to 5 sourcing principles.

"Almost half (49%) of British fruit and veg farmers fear they will go out of business within the next 12 months. 75% report that supermarket behaviour is a leading factor.*

If all supermarkets committed to these principles, the lives of farmers would be transformed - giving them stability, a reliable income, and protecting the future of British food and farming for the long term."

We're writing an open letter to the supermarkets,calling for change - but government support is vital too. Add your voice to ours by signing our petition. It's quick, easy, and will make a big difference. We're aiming for 100,000 signatures so that this can be debated in Parliament"

FInd out more and sign here

So - what do we all really want from food?

The National Food Conversationhas been published and it's fascinating, and easily digestable!

Thousands of people were asked, in a variety of ways, about the potential things that could happen to improve our system.

The headlines are below  - but the conversation found overhwelmingly that people - across ages and political spectrums -  want substantial changes.

Sharing news below of Little Pomona's Open Day this Sunday in Bromyard - there are many more celebratory Apple Events over the next two weeks!

This post has a round up of most- which includes the Hereford AppleFest listings and others.  There's also more apple fun with the two Alliance cooking sessions with surplus produce for Ledbury and Hereford Food Banks and Larders.  Please continue to share these gleaning events, thanks.

From Pomona:

"Come and enjoy Hereford AppleFest with us during our Open Day this weekend!

We had a great first outing for the Herefordshire Gleaning Network this Sunday, picking 60kg of Bramley apples which might have otherwise gone to waste. We will be stewing and pressing these apples at our community cooking day this Sunday  8^th October at Ledbury Community Hub at Pot and Page 11-3 so come along! If you have any surplus apples then bring them down to be made into juice for the Ledbury Food bank and stewed apples to put their new freezer!

Recent research has shown some interesting things about Growing Your Own... 

When UK households have access to growing their own produce, they can produce more than half of their own food - and waste almost none. Food for thought!

"Household fruit and vegetable production in allotments and gardens can provide sustainable access to nutritious food. The present study demonstrates that UK household fruit and vegetable production supplies more than half of the vegetables and potatoes and 20% of the fruit that growers consume annually. Importantly, study participants ate 6.3 portions of their recommended 5-a-day fruit and vegetable(70% higher than the UK national average), and their wasted fruit and vegetable was 95% lower than the national average. This provides key evidence to demonstrate the role household fruit and vegetableproduction could play in providing access to fresh fruit and vegetable, which is key to a healthy, food-secure population.

 https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ppp3.10413

Herefordshire Food Alliance had a great time on day one of the Marches Real Food & Farming Conference last week.

The conference was organised by the @shropshiregoodfood partnership and brought together an excellent programme with experts from small scale growing to composting, to local restauranteurs and much more. The Growing Local team joined the 'collective growing at scale' panel chaired by the alliance, talking about the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) element of the Hereford Market Garden project, along withThe Fold's CSA and Canon Frome Court, an intentional community in Herefordshire.

There were Herefordshire representatives in many of the panels and workshops, including Applewood Permaculture, Alliance member Jo Hilditch joining the 'nutrient run-off' panel and more. We're excited to keep those conversations and to have made links with neighbouring areas in themes of food, tourism, nature.  Looking forward to next year!

We also hope to bring these conversations to the Autumn gleaning and cooking events - and the three Autumn feasts. See you there!

Calling all community groups in Herefordshire – there’s a survey that’s seeking your views.

Sustainability West Midlands, in partnership with Herefordshire Council, are developing a user-led climate change adaptation plan for the county.  It’s about Herefordshire’s people, environment, infrastructure, buildings – helping to ensure they’re protected from the impacts of climate change.

Your thoughts on how the county is already dealing with extreme weather events, and what more it needs to do, will form a key part of the plan’s content, and will better enable the actions going to the right organisation.

The survey, is specifically asking for views from community groups within Herefordshire.  The survey closes at 5pm on Thursday 28 September. Thank you.

https://online1.snapsurveys.com/interview/de25a02c-c7b0-44aa-b500-271eba82c505

Through the Food Farming and Countryside Commission:

"The National Conversation About Food kicked off in summer 2023 with a question: what do we really want from food? During a series of public dialogues, citizens from Birmingham and Cambridgeshire looked at the science behind what we eat and how we eat, the way our food is produced and marketed, its impact on climate and nature, the availability of healthy food, and the potential to change things for better.

The findings from the National Conversation About Food will be published later this month, with plans to continue the conversation across all four UK nations.

To get the report straight to your inbox sign up to our newsletter"

https://ffcc.co.uk/news-and-press/what-do-people-really-think-about-food

You can also hear the FFCC Chief Executive Sue Pritchard on BBC Radio Wales discussing supermarket power and the #GetFairAboutFarming campaign. https://ffcc.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=77d5d0e66eba93e66584d4c5b&id=a462983580&e=b4dfee48cd interview starts at 1:48:02

Use a free pass to enjoy some Herefordshire beauty, some of it producing our food, this Autumn:

"Take a stroll surrounded by colour, spot wildlife and connect with nature when you escape into autumn. Experience the awe of the season at places in our care by claiming a free, single-use pass to use between 18 September and 20 October 2023."

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/escape-into-autumn