Join us on 5th May to celebrate the fields and woods around our village - and the food they produce. Talks, stalls, food and drink, bouncy castles, and so much more.
Keep an eye on this site for updates.
We all love the countryside. But do we really know what goes on in the land around us? If you’re bored of buzzwords like ‘industrial farming’, ‘regen’ or ‘rewilding’ and want to get to the roots of what’s happening, this is the place to find out.
Each of our three panel discussions is filled with local farmers, food producers and foresters dealing with the challenges of the wet Mendip weather, hard economics and tree diseases like ash dieback. Find out how they’re rediscovering the old ways to overcome these challenges grow more delicious food, nurture resilient soil and return to our fields flowers that we haven’t seen for years.
Farmers Jeremy Padfield and Tom Tolputt join author Matthew Ingram to talk about farming in a way that prevents topsoil loss and flooding in the increasingly wet Mendip hills, reduces chemical use and still manages to make money. How many of these techniques are old ones and how many are new? Where did they come from? How can technology hurt and help farming?
Somerset makes the best cheese and cider in the world. Our vegetables aren’t too shabby either (the world’s longest parsnip measuring 18.5 feet was showcased at the Bath and West showground). Two of our greatest producers are on the panel: Richard Carver (Westcombe Dairy) and Oli Dowding (Dowding’s Apple Juice and Cider). They join market gardener Kate Gatacre to talk about food. If you’re greedy and want to know where to buy (or how to grow) the most delicious food, hear it from the people who know how.
Where we live was once covered by the forest of Selwood (‘Sallow wood’ was willow which thrived in our damp valleys). The woods remain a vital part of our surroundings, bringing us fuel, food and above all a sense of peace when we venture into them. Find out from local Mells forester Oli Frost how commercial forestry practices imposed blocks of monoculture, how these have affected the natural woodland and how these practices are being softened. Discover how to find food in the forests with local forager Pavla Kislerova .
This year we have expanded the fete to include Mells recreation ground where we'll be raising much-needed funds for our basketball and tennis courts as well as to support our village choir. Expect fete games, a bouncy castle (for the little ones), an inflatable assault course (for the older ones), sports challenges and a children's 5 a side match. As well as singing, The Mells Choir will be serving freshly made cream teas in the cricket pavilion and there will be more music from The Midsomer Norton and Coleford Silver Band.
Paying homage to this year's Field, Forest and Food theme, we've turned the barn into a Woodland cafe where the Mells Nursery will be serving tea and cakes throughout the day, accompanied by an eclectic mix of live acoustic folk music and our guest storyteller, Sarah Mooney.
Carrying on the barn's woodland theme, the barn garden will be bursting with activity from the Mells Scouts as they raise money for new camping equipment by demonstrating some or their woodland skills (which you can join in on). There will also be face painting, axe throwing and much more.
Info to follow
Info to follow
Info to follow
Mark Asquith
Caroline True
Cosmo Fry
Jane Taylor
Jemima Powell
Toby Ingram
Ben Corlett
Keep up with the latest updates on Mells Matters Facebook page, on our official website and follow us on Instagram.
Click the link below if you wish to volunteer to help us on the day.