Local Food

Burton Bradstock Pig Project

Ten families, all with a passion for pork, embarked on a village project to rear pigs locally so that they could produce free range pork that their children had a hand in rearing. Putting an advert in the local Post Office, they soon found land on the edge of the village and became proud owners of 7 Saddleback piglets from an organic farm just down the road.

As Janis Bernadini, one of the pig feeders explained ‘it felt quite daunting to be left in charge but we soon got the hang of how to look after them and the kids were really keen to get involved'. Tilly, one of the children who regularly helped with feeding said ‘we really missed the pigs once they had gone, but enjoyed eating them too. Because we
knew where the meat came from, we didn't want to waste any of it!'

The group had to learn very new skills - practical things such as fencing and feeding through to setting up a Blog to keep everyone involved and sourcing the right sort of food. There was so much enthusiasm that they even hired a butcher to work with them for a day on some of the pigs to teach them the basics of butchery and about the different cuts of meat.

The Project is now in its second year and looking forward to a delivery of pork soon.

Food Festivals

The first Dorset Knob Throwing Festival was held in Cattistock in 2008 to show off the fantastic range of local food produced in the area. Despite terrible weather, over a thousand people came along to sample the local delights - and have fun with Dorset Knob biscuits too!

Bridport Food Festival attracts thousands of people each year, all with an interest in good quality, tasty local food. In 2006 we supported the Sea to Vale marquee which celebrated the links between landscape, food and farming.

The Bridport Local Food Group organised farm walks, food tastings and cooking demonstrations to showcase some of Dorset's best local food, and enjoyed the support of Lesley Waters and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall for the event.

Orchards

The organic small holding 'Green & Pleasant' used the site of a pre-war orchard to plant a new orchard at Up Sydling, featuring local dessert and cider apple varieties. Volunteers helped plant the apple trees and look forward to open days and apple festivals at the orchard when it begins to bear fruit.