Boost for Gloucestershire's Wildlife friendly foodies

Up and coming food producers across Gloucestershire will be given the chance to showcase their wares at the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust’s first ever Wildlife-Friendly Food Festival in March.

The region’s budding food businesses are being called upon to promote food that has been produced ethically and sustainably and will benefit wildlife – whether that’s meat farmed organically or pollinator-friendly plants.

The event has secured funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as part of its Championing British Food Tourism grant scheme – an initiative to boost tourism and champion regional British produce.

The festival takes place on 12 March at Crickley Hill, near Birdlip and is open to smaller food producers who may not otherwise get an opportunity to showcase their products. Only high-quality food that is produced locally, and where the producers are demonstrably working towards wildlife-friendly practices, will feature.

Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom said: “The UK is renowned for its top quality food and drink and our new food tourism grant will help to showcase this to visitors from around the globe.

“By encouraging businesses to produce food that benefits the environment, this market is also an exciting opportunity for the region’s up-and-coming producers to give tourists a taste for eco-friendly food.”

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust CEO Roger Mortlock says:

“There are plenty of examples around Gloucestershire where farmers are producing great, tasty food on land that’s also great for wildlife. This new project is a real showcase for wildlife-friendly food, encouraging and supporting small producers across the county. Farming and conservation can work hand in glove, and we want to celebrate those farmers and producers who are producing good food and encouraging wildlife.”

Wildlife Friendly Food activities will continue throughout the following year, with festival exhibitors being showcased at the Crickley Hill café in the following months. A children’s activity pack will be available at Crickley Hill both at the Festival and throughout the year. The pack will encourage children, through a series of fun and entertaining activities, to think about food production, and how it impacts on the wildlife they see around them.

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trusts aims to develop the Wildlife Friendly Food concept into a recognisable marque which will help consumers make an informed choice when buying produce. The project is about promoting positive change and demonstrating that there is a consumer demand for sustainable, environmentally friendly food products, to encourage more producers and manufacturers to join us on our journey towards Wildlife-friendly food being readily available and accessible to all.

Food producers who would like to take part in the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Wildlife Friendly Food project should contact the project manager, Victoria Little, for an informal chat and application pack on 01452 383333.