Discover seasonal food on your doorstep

The National Forest has such a fantastic choice of locally produced food but how do food lovers find out what is available? Well, help is at hand with the summer issue of The National Forest Food Guide.

Compiled by local food expert, Barry Smith, the National Forest Food Guide lists where to buy great local food, with details of producers and stockists of everything from meat to mushrooms, beer to bread and cakes to cheese.

Barry said: “As a ‘food lover’ I compiled the list so that it is easier for both residents and visitors to the area to enjoy the wonderful selection of food and drink that we have here.

“I would welcome feedback from readers on the content. Do you know of other great local suppliers that are missing from the list? Let us know and we will update the guide.”

The Food Guide is available on the website at visitnationalforest.co.uk/food

Website visitors can also read about and submit Food News and events, which include dates of the farmers markets, as well as finding suggestions of places to eat and drink across the area.

The National Forest & Beyond Visitor Guide is also available through the website which highlights tea shops and restaurants, attractions and pubs that use local produce. These include Donington le Heath Manor House and Calke Abbey, Staunton Stables and Moira Furnace tearooms where all of the scrumptious cakes are homemade and of course the farmers markets and excellent farm shops in the area that often stock many more unusual varieties of produce than those found in supermarkets.

Penny Wilkinson, Tourism & Promotions Officer with the National Forest Company, commented: “There is such a wealth of local food and drink on the doorstep, we want to encourage more people to try these.

“Visitors can combine a visit to one of our excellent attractions with a browse around a farm shop or farmers market on a weekend break in The National Forest. Our latest Visitor Guide has some great ideas on the huge choice of things to see and do in the area.”

As well as the information on local food and drink the National Forest & Beyond Visitor Guide contains details of the many family attractions, places to visit for heritage and history, and suggestions for where to enjoy the woodlands and countryside. It also highlights the interesting activities that people can do such as coracle or basket-making, woodland crafts, survival and bushcraft skills, textile, painting and walking holidays.

To order a copy of the guide, either log on to the website - visitnationalforest.co.uk, or email enquiries@nationalforest.org.