TRANSITION Tavistock organised a celebration of local food and growing on Saturday (March 5) at Tavistock College.

Everyone enjoyed a range of discussions led by different speakers including Susie Zaleski from Zest Kitchen who prepare the meals for St Andrew’s School in Buckland Monachorum from local ingredients.

Jenny Tunley Price talked about the work of Tamar Grow Local and Tamar Valley Food Hubs, bringing food from local producers and outlets to local consumers via the internet.

Guests also learnt about a new initiative to grow tea at Maristow Walled Gardens.

Liz Whitwell shared Tavistock Farmers Market’s plans to incorporate active demonstrations from local producers into the fortnightly market experience.

Sue Hepworth talked about Roots for Transition and Tasty Tavy’s plans for expanding their edible growing through Tavistock in 2016, supporting Britain in Bloom; and in harvesting seeds to grow ‘free’ food.

Anita Curren kicked off a group to bring novice growers who aren’t sure what to do, together with more experienced growers.

Charlotte Faulkner (Dartmoor Conservation Meat Co) talked about the importance of maintaining ponies on Dartmoor as part of our landscape. Developing a market for their meat, rather than shooting them, is an important management strategy for their future.

Peter Hunt (Bees in Devon) discussed the importance of developing and maintaining a network of bees across the area, and the value that their honey can bring.

Andy Bradford from Dartmoor Farmers’ Co-operative and Dartmoor Woodfuel Co-operative shared the development of an active co-operative market for woodfuel across the area, better utilising local woodfuel resource; and an exciting initiative to promote more wildflower meadows.

Finally Kit Harbottle and Kate Royston discussed the Transition Tavistock report produced in 2015 which explains how local food growers, producers and outlets could gain a bigger share of the £80-million we spend each year across the area on food and drink at home, work and eating out.

If you’d like to find out more or get involved go to www.transitiontavistock.org.uk