The Forty Farms Fair developed with Kendal Farmers Market, makes a welcome return to Rheged, near Penrith, on Saturday 20th April, with stalls showcasing seasonal local produce, as well as crafts and gift ideas, all linking back to Cumbrian farms.
But that’s not all there’s also a line-up of inspiring talks covering a whole range of topics with farm diversification and award-winning local produce at their heart.
So head over to Rheged on Saturday 20th April, between 10am-3pm, and join farmers, producers, fellow foodies and artisan crafters as they come together to showcase their wares at this FREE to enter event.
There’s also a chance to win a very special hamper, with the proceeds from the raffle going to Growing Well, which enables mental health and wellbeing through growing organic vegetables.
On the day visitors can spend time browsing 30+ stalls selling food, drink and handmade gifts and crafts, as well as spending a little time meeting some of the Cumbrian farmers and producers who have created them. Including the likes of Ginger Bakers, Torpenhow Cheese Co, Lovingly Artisan, Pennington’s Spirits, Eden Yard, the Legendary Sauce Co, Dodgson Wood and Ullswater Felt Art to name a few.
Rheged’s lecture theatre, will host a FREE programme of talks throughout the day, with a guest speaker line up as follows:
11am Outdoor Fire Cooking for Gatherings with Jim Metcalfe.
Join Jim Metcalfe, Head of Food for the Westmorland Family, as he encourages you to elevate your Summer BBQ with new techniques and recipes.
12pm ‘Epona – The Wild Pony of the North’ – Introducing a New Piece of Land Art in the Lune Gorge.
Adrian Lochhead, director of Eden Arts and Tom Lloyd from Fell Pony Adventures, introduce a new project working towards an ambitious piece of land art in the Lune Gorge, inspired by the heritage of the local Fell Ponies and the area itself.
1pm Wild Fell: Fighting for Nature on a Lake District Hill Farm.
Join Lee Schofield, author and RSPB Site Manager, as he gives his personal account of a decade working to breathe life back into Wild Haweswater – 3,000 hectares of moorland, mountain, meadow and stream in the eastern Lake District National Park.
2.30pm-5.00pm Six Inches of Soil: Film Screening plus Panel Debate, in aid of Growing Well, Cumbria Mental Health Charity.
Local food production, healthy soil and inspiring farmers come to the fore in this brand-new film.
This special screening will include a panel debate after the film organised by the team at Growing Well.
Tickets for the screening are £9 per person and bookable at Rheged.com.
During the day visitors will also have the opportunity to visit Rheged’s latest exhibition in the Community Gallery:
‘Epona- The Wild Pony of the North’. The exhibition outlines the concept of a giant Fell pony on the side of Blease Fell, located in the Tebay Gorge, as well as the Epona Community Engagement Project; a new cultural programme exploring Eden’s environmental and cultural heritage that aims to engage with young people and community groups in the area.
There’s also the chance to visit The New Light Prize Exhibition, on until Sunday 2nd June in the Rheged Gallery.
Now in its 12th year, the biennial exhibition is an open art competition celebrating and promoting the best of Northern Art. From the pieces submitted a prestigious panel of judges have selected over 120 exciting artworks across an array of mediums to go on display, including five prize winners and a Visitor’s Choice Award from each of the exhibition venues.
Claire Logan-Stephens, head of programming at Rheged commented “We are thrilled to be bringing back another Forty Farms Fair with Kendal Farmers Market to Rheged this April. After the successes of our previous events, we are delighted to have another amazing line-up of top-quality producers and guest speakers, as well as bringing back Six Inches of Soil for its second screening at Rheged in partnership with Growing Well.”
For more information about Forty Farms Fair visit: https://rheged.com/forty-farms-fair
