The full programme of events for the first ever ‘Vale Food Trail’ has now been revealed; it features more than 30 local businesses offering farm tours, cookery workshops, tasting events, special exhibitions, live demos – and much, much more.

Taking place between the 9^th – 18^th June the Vale Food Trai is a calendar of events designed to bring people closer to food producers and businesses in the local area.

Visitors and locals will be able travel around the region, independently visiting a variety of producers, restaurants and other businesses; in total more than thirty have signed up to offer a programme of events which showcase climate and nature-friendly (or ‘agroecological’) food.

In Barry, trail participants will be able to enjoy a Scrappy Cooking Workshop with Awesome Wales zero-waste store; learn about Sauerkraut & Kombucha making at Karry’s Deli; enjoy a Summer Wine Tasting at Craft Republic; or go on a Barry Food Tasting tour to discover a new favourite foodie venue.
In Llantwit Major, a Market Garden Tour with Ali’s Edibles will demystify the process of sustainable ‘no-dig’ growing; the Llantwit Food & Drink Festival will showcase a variety of local traders; and a Fairtrade Art Exhibition at St Illtud’s Church will highlight the world through the eyes of the children in the local community.
In Penarth, a variety of Tastings & Offers at Foxy’s Deli will showcase local producers like Grounds for Good and Baa Baa Rum; a Microgreens Exhibition from Urban Vertical CIC will explore the connections between food, art and design at the Makers Space in Penarth Library; and a Food, People & Planet event at All Saints Lesser Hall will bring together a variety of stalls and activities to explore connections between what we eat and how we live, today and in the future.
In Cowbridge, a Vineyard Tour with St Hilary Vineyard will give an insight into the challenges of making wine; whilst a two-course lunch and a tour of Glyndwr Vineyard will offer an opportunity to meet their resident chickens and llamas; an Orchard Tour at Llanblethian Orchards will explain how their zero-spray method benefits local biodiversity; and Tea & Coffee Tastings will be available from Cortile Coffee. Trail participants will also be able to Meet The Bees or watch a BBQ Cooking Demo at Forage Farm Shop & Kitchen; or try their hand at Soap Making with milk from Garlic Meadow Goats at Old Hall Gardens.
In Western Vale, a Sunset Farm Safari will take families on a trip around Slade Farm to see the abundance of wildlife which thrives in an organic farming system; a Banquet Under the Stars will use the finest locally-sourced ingredients for a four-course feast at the Three Golden Cups; and there’ll be a Milking Demo at Penuchadre Organic Dairy Farm – followed by a chance to try some of their delicious milkshakes.
In other areas of the Vale, a Tea Plantation Tour & Tasting will offer visitors an insight into the world of the Welsh brew at Peterston Tea; a Horticulture Tour with Bonvilston Edge will offer an insight into the realities of growing food; and Foodie Book Displays around the Vale will take place in local libraries (Barry, Llantwit, Penarth and Cowbridge) for the duration of the Vale Food Trail.

The Vale Food Trail is being organised by partners from Food Vale, the Vale of Glamorgan’s Sustainable Food Partnership; Visit the Vale; Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Economic Regeneration and Strategy and Partnerships teams; as well as Menter a Busnes’ business support programme Cywain. It has received funding via the Sustainable Food Places Good Food Economy campaign grant, and The National Lottery’s ‘Awards For All’ grant.

Louise Denham is the Sustainable Food Places co-ordinator at Food Vale, and one of the festival coordinators. She said, “It’s exciting to see the plans for the Vale Food Trail come together, and to imagine how this trail might help foster a better appreciation of our local farmers and food businesses – as well as potentially creating fertile ground for sustainable businesses to grow in the Vale.”

Further details about specific events, participating businesses and how to book tickets for each event are available now at www.valefoodtrail.com.