Farmers Markets

Enforced change of venue for Wincanton Farmers Market

SOMERSET Farmers' Market started trading at the Memorial Hall, Wincanton, 13 years ago in July 1999. This has always been a very popular venue for the stallholders as we have easy access and parking, a warm spacious hall with tables and comfy chairs provided, refreshments from the Live at Home charity, toilets and a loyal band of customers.

Sadly, after 13 years of very amiable relations with the Memorial Hall, the committee has seen fit to ask us not to hold our markets here, giving us two weeks verbal notice to find a new venue. At the time of writing we have not received the official letter. For more information see the news pages at the front of this magazine.

The Balsam Centre has kindly offered us a venue for July and August but may be unable to accommodate us after that. It remains to be seen if a farmers' market is still viable in Wincanton and whether we will find a new venue.

Wells Farmer's Market

Wells is well worth a visit at the moment with the beautifully decorated swans scattered through the city. There are 60 swans, one for each year of the Queen's reign - each five foot swan is individually decorated, often depicting the business that has sponsored the design.

Of course, another reason to go there is the Wednesday weekly farmers' market. This, combined with the pannier market, makes for an excellent food market, especially from our 15 SFM stalls.

Frome Artisan Market on Sunday 6th July will be joined by Somerset Farmer's Market with the road through Frome closed for the duration of the market, so there will be even more food stalls next Sunday. The market runs from 10am – 2pm. Look for SFM's striped canopies.

We are all hoping for better weather in July – the markets have been very challenging and sometimes we have been unable to erect the canopies due to the high winds.

Thank you to our brave producers and customers who have braved the elements especially in Blandford where it turned into a 'car boot' market. Bridport Food Festival went ahead despite the wind, sheltering behind the marquee to gain some shelter, and a good day was had by all, thanks to Chip and Anita de Gref and the organisers.

Food festivals

Dorset Farmers' Market stallholders join the Bournemouth Food & Drink Festival in the Town Square on Friday, Saturday and Sunday 29th – 1st July.

Dorset Seafood Festival, 7th to 8th July is at Weymouth Harbour with over 80 stalls showcasing fresh seafood and fish dishes, chefs giving cooking demonstrations. See www.dorsetseafood.co.uk

Dorset Farmers' Market have been ... to facing page

from previous page ... invited to the Larmer Tree Festival on 13th to 15th July and will be located in a marquee next to the Big Top.

Leigh Village Food Festival is on Saturday 21st July www.visit-dorset.com

Dorset 2012 Festival is at Poundbury on 4th-5th August - a showcase for the best of Dorset's food and drink producers, plus craft stalls, music from some great bands (and it's all free, with proceeds going to Weldmar Hospicecare Trust).

Weymouth Bayside Festival is from 27th July to 12th August running through the Olympic Games. See www.weymouthbayside festival.co.uk

Lakeside news

My grand-daughter arrived from Spain this week and is staying with us for the summer. The two 'royal' swans left us to be replaced a few days ago by a non regal pair which Lola has named Gabby and Plop, bringing a smile to my face every time she spots them.

Chris and I enjoyed watching three baby pied wagtails being fed damson flies by their parents for several days at the beginning of the month. There has been a dearth of dragonflies and damsel flies probably due to the cold, wet, windy weather. That means that we haven't seen as much of the swallows, martins and swifts and not many bats at dusk either.

The ducklings have suffered this year too, though today we have been watching a pair coots feeding their three babies. They keep them well hidden when newly hatched as do the dabchicks. Just as well as we have a resident barn owl who flies around the lake at dusk and we saw a kite at the beginning of the month, identifiable by his convex tail, lighter colouring than a buzzard and larger size.

The toadpoles hatched in the lake turning out to be tadpoles, consequently frogs, about the size of my small fingernail. Lola's in the bucket haven't developed their back legs yet though they are a good size.

The markets kick off in July with the Frome Artisan and Somerset Farmers' Market on Sunday 1st July and because of the way July falls Wincanton follows on Friday 6th July and then the busy Saturday 7th July with Axbridge, Midsomer Norton, Devizes, Salisbury and Poundbury. There will be some producers at Shaftesbury's Gold Hill Fair but the farmers market will not take place as the hall is booked.

For more information about the markets contact the Somerset market coordinator on 01373 814646 or www.somersetfarmers markets.co.uk or for Dorset Farmers' Markets email joyeatman@hotmail.co.uk or phone 01258 818282.

Janet Wood