Natural England

The public are invited to celebrate and enjoy some of the food, traditions and culture that have shaped this region at the East Anglian Food Festival in Stowmarket, Suffolk on Sunday 22 June.

Recognising that agriculture and livestock have been, and continue to be, cornerstones of the rural communities in this region Natural England are pleased to join forces with The Museum of East Anglian Life (MEAL) to bring you the first East Anglian Food Festival.

Natural England’s Grazing, Landscape and Food project manager Victoria Perry said: “Natural England believes that the future of farming lies in adopting techniques that not only produce high quality food, but also enhance the beauty of the English landscape and conserve and protect our much-loved native wildlife. The food festival is celebrating fantastic local food, set in a wildlife oasis just ten minutes from the railway station. The museum is a great place to make the links between landscape, livestock and food.”

Set in 28 hectares (70 acres) of farmland, part of which is in a Natural England Countryside Stewardship agreement, it has four county wildlife sites and 14 hectares (35 acres) of beautiful wetland meadows where traditional breeds of sheep and cattle, such as Red Poll, graze.

Why not have a go at making your own butter with milk from Punchard’s Farm, watch the English Beef and Lamb Executive butchery demonstration or simply take the chance to sample local produce and watch cookery demonstrations in the farm’s beautiful gardens?

Discover how to use left over food with the Women’s Institute or try some beer from St Peter’s brewery and eat specially made local food dishes in the bistro.

For the children there will be storytelling, farm based games such as welly throwing and some farm animals for them to meet including, gentle Red Poll cows and rare breed sheep from Christmas Hill Farm. Entry to the Museum is included in the ticket price with £1 off for anyone coming by public transport.

There are lots of wildlife walks and Angus McFadzean, Estate Manager from MEAL, will be on hand to tell you about the farm and to answer any questions.

Angus added: “We look like farms used to look like when it was more common to see animals and crops side by side. Farmers have turned to more profitable arable farming and as a result we’re in danger of losing the benefits of grazing animals.

"The traditional breeds are a natural way of managing fragile habitats as the animals create the perfect conditions for delicate and rare species such as wild orchids to grow. Nothing is wasted as the dung is an essential natural fertiliser that supports the food chain from the ground up.

"This less intensive method of farming gives wildlife a chance to thrive in a protected environment and we are able to produce a landscape rich with flora and fauna," he added.

Ends

Notes to editors:

1. Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.

2. For further details about the Grazing, Landscape and Food project visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk/regions/east/GLF.htm

3. For further details about the Countryside Stewardship Scheme visit: www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/schemes/default.htm

4. The East Anglian Food Festival runs from 11.00am to 5.00pm on Sunday 22 June at the Museum of East Anglian Life, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 1DL. Details about the Museum of East Anglian Life and the event visit: www.eastanglianlife.org.uk

5. For further information please contact the Natural England East of England press office: Andrew Smith on 01223 533474 / 07824475359 andrew.r.smith@naturalengland.org.uk or Heather McMorland on 01733 455080 / 07919 228 388, heather.mcmorland@naturalengland.org.uk