26 // Celebrating Poundbury
Time to
CELEBRATE DORSET
It’ s no secret that Dorset has some of the best food producers in the country. Coupled with a county full of incredible artists and you have the makings of a brilliant festival
That was the plan four years ago when the Dorset Farmers ' Market came together with the Duchy of Cornwall to plan a free festival. Since then, the Dorset Food & Arts Festival has gone from strength to strength, and in 2015 it boasts an impressive line up of Dorset chefs and producers.
Foodies and families flock to a bustling Queen Mother Square to purchase fresh lobster, crab, fine cheese and artisan baker’ s goods. Over the last few years the festival has become one of the showcase events for Dorset Food and Drink and therefore attracts an array of different producers. The 2015 event is all day Saturday, August 1 from 9am to 9pm with celebrity chef Lesley Waters opening the day. The Dorset based chef, who runs her Lesley Waters Cookery School, said:“ I’ m really interested in what is going on in Poundbury. It has become quite foodie there which is attracting a lot of new people. The produce at the festival is amazing, it’ s a real showcase event.”
Live music adorns the stage all day with a jazz street band in the evening.
The festival is managed by a committee of volunteers and last year raised £ 3,000 for local charity Weldmar Hospicecare Trust. But the event is not just for food lovers. It has become increasingly popular with families thanks to a children’ s area offering arts and crafts, plant a pot and cooking. Christine Walsh, of the Duchy of Cornwall, Poundbury, said the festival is only possible because of the dedication of the volunteers: " The festival has grown to become the key community event in Poundbury’ s calendar and we hope this will continue," she says. " It is a great display of not only fine Dorset produce and arts but also Poundbury and Queen Mother Square in particular. The event is free on entry and most importantly raises funds for local charities, who this year are Weldmar Hospice Care, the Steve Charles Help a Friend and Artreach."
w www. dorsetfestival. org www. facebook. com / dorsetfestival @ DorsetFestival
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