2 days ago
Record numbers of food lovers help make Somerset Food Trail Festival a success
A record-breaking number of food lovers have helped make this year's Somerset Food Trail Festival the most successful yet.
The 10-day celebration of sustainable, locally-produced food took place from Friday, July 18 to Sunday, July 27 and featured dozens of events across the county.
Organisers from Sustainable Food Somerset, the charity behind the festival, praised the "incredible energy and community spirit" shown by venues, producers and attendees.
Kate Hughes, chair of Sustainable Food Somerset, said: "The Somerset Food Trail Festival is about much more than good food – it's about reconnecting with where our food comes from, supporting farmers who are regenerating the land, and building a local food economy that nourishes people and planet.
"We're so proud of everyone who took part, and immensely grateful to all the venues involved who really pulled out the stops."
Nearly 6,000 people visited the festival website during July, and 1,500 have now subscribed to its newsletter.
Ms Hughes said: "Many events sold out in advance, and glowing reviews have been pouring in from visitors and venues alike."
One of the festival's standout features was the popular 30-Mile Feasts, which challenge venues to source 90 per cent of their ingredients from within a 30-mile radius.
This year's feasts included menus created by celebrity chefs such as Margot Henderson and Nye Smith of The Three Horseshoes.
Other highlights included glasshouse dinners at Lower Hewood Farm near Chard and family picnics at Paddington Farm near Glastonbury.
Susie Weldon, co-founder of the Food Trail and trustee of Sustainable Food Somerset, said: "We've been overwhelmed by the incredible energy and community spirit shown across Somerset this year.
"So many events were packed out, from intimate tastings to large-scale feasts.
"The feedback we're receiving is full of warmth and appreciation for the producers and venues that make Somerset's food scene so special.
"It really feels like a tipping point has been reached where people just 'get it' – seeing that a thriving local food system means a thriving local economy as well as a healthy environment."
The festival showcased nature-friendly farmers, regenerative growers, community food projects, and the chefs, pubs, and food businesses that support them.
Events ranged from electric bike cheese safaris and pop-up suppers to foraging walks and community picnics.
Visitors were given rare access to farms, growing projects, and food businesses not usually open to the public.
The festival is part of a wider movement to promote regenerative agriculture, low-food-mile dining, and conscious consumer choices.
Organisers also see it as an opportunity to support smaller-scale, ecologically-minded farmers who face challenges as traditional subsidies are phased out.
Ms Hughes said the event demonstrated that eating sustainably can be both accessible and enjoyable.
She said: "We know that food choices can feel overwhelming, especially with so many people stretched by the cost of living.
"But what this festival shows is that eating sustainably doesn't have to cost the earth.
"It can be joyful, affordable, and bring communities together.
"There's also growing evidence that food grown sustainably is more nutritious, so better for your health."
