A celebration of food is being planned in Glastonbury in July.

As part of the Somerset Food Trail which takes place from July 15-24, a special event is to be held in Glastonbury on July 17 with local producers, projects and suppliers promoting their work, as well as talks on local, sustainable food.

The event is being organised by Glastonbury Town Council, and they are inviting anyone who would like to take part to get in touch.

They are keen to hear from:

–     ­food producers/suppliers or projects who may wish to promote their work (free of charge). This might be a poster, leaflets, or a stall with produce / demonstrations.

–     anyone who may be interested in helping us with a seed / plant swap stall

–     musicians to perform during the day, in the background

–     anyone with any ideas no matter how small

If you'd like to be a part of this event, please contact Sarah Hallam or Melissa Taylor at Glastonbury Town Council on 01458 831769 or email [email protected].

The Somerset Food Trail Festival on July 15-24 is an 'open farm' and farm-to-fork showcase that puts the spotlight on Somerset's smaller-scale, nature-friendly farmers and artisan producers in all their fascinating diversity, giving visitors a better understanding of where food comes from and the many benefits of buying local.

From biodynamic vineyards to community-funded food forests; small batch, organic cheesemaking to rare breed pigs, apple orchards, aquaponics and cider making; buffalo mozzarella to milk-based vodka; the 10-day event offers a wealth of foodie experiences – and some cultural ones as well.

Live performance and art will complement talks, tastings and tours in multiple destinations across the county. The festival offers visitors a rare 'behind-the-scenes' access to the farms, landscapes, people and places that produce Somerset's best, most flavourful food.

Stewart Crocker, chair of the Food Trail's organising committee, says the event aims to give visitors a better understanding of where food comes from, and the benefits of supporting more regenerative and climate friendly approaches to farming.

He says: "There's a growing interest in healthier, more environmentally-friendly food. Buying local, sustainably-grown food supports the producers, the local economy and the environment. It's good for our health, good for the soil and the climate – and food that hasn't travelled hundreds of miles just tastes a whole lot better!"

As well as helping people access the fantastic food producers on their doorstep, the Food Trail also has a serious purpose. "Food and farming have been a vital part of the life of Somerset for generations. Yet our food and farming system is under pressure as never before2 and diet-related health problems, such as type two diabetes and obesity, are on the rise," says Crocker.

"The Government's own National Food Strategy says our food system has become an ecological disaster3. The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with just 53% of our biodiversity left3.

"The great news is that we can all help bring about a shift to more nature-friendly farming through our everyday food choices."

Rob Walrond, who runs an organic farm at Pitney, will be on the Trail this year as he was in 2018. He says: "One of the ways we can make the biggest difference to our health and the environment is to value food more highly… and learn about it. The Food Trail is a great way for people to understand more about how our food is produced and to learn about the growing movement of farming in harmony with nature."