WHEN Helen Dunne was made redundant from her job in advertising in 2019 it seemed like the logical progression was to convert the former Victorian greenhouse at her home in the Brecon Beacons, into a bed and breakfast suite.

Little did she realise at the time that just as the conversion project reached its end and the Tegfan Garden Suite would be ready to open for its first full season, Covid-19 would cut a swathe through her well laid plans.

“I had just got the property updated and looking as I wanted it, it had been inspected and was ready to open for the 2020 season and we went into lockdown,” said Helen.

Fortunately for Helen, the positive feedback about her homemade jams and preserves from the few guests who had managed to visit the Pwll-y-Wrach. Talgarth get-away, gave her the idea for a brand new arm to her business,

“I realised that people liked the jams and chutneys I made so I thought I’d start making them and selling them locally,” she explained.

“ I then found that although everyone loved them, I couldn’t find many outlets to sell them, apart from the Bakers Table in Talgarth, because everyone was in lockdown and didn’t want to take on new ranges.

“I’d already diversified once and then I found myself diversifying again,” explained a resigned Helen who turned to social media to market directly to customers.

“I started selling through Facebook. I was too late for Mother’s Day but I offered a special gift for Father’s Day and they sold like hot cakes,” said Helen.

“I think a lot of people who couldn’t get to see their loved ones thought that they would make an ideal gift,” she said.

Buoyed by the success of the Facebook venture Helen launched her new website and online shop on October 28 and immediately found herself working round the clock to keep up with the demand for her range of jams and preserves all of which use the freshest seasonal ingredients from the kitchen garden or which have been locally sourced whenever possible.

Being environmentally friendly was also a foundation of the business so a lot of time was spent in developing sustainable and recyclable bespoke branded packaging with Helen also introducing a loyalty scheme, similar to a coffee reward card, to help you benefit if you recycle your used glass jars.

Supporting local businesses was also a key ethos for the growth of Black Mountains Preserves with Helen investing in local web designers, photographers, printers and brand design to produce the disctinctive look of her product.

Her determination to support local producers like her, carried into her plans for the company’s first Christmas collection and earlier this year Helen set about about creating partnerships with fellow food producers to create her range of luxury hampers ready for Christmas.

“For our first Christmas range, we have collaborated with The Blaenafon Cheddar Company, Cradoc’s Savoury Biscuits, The Mallow Tailor and Tames Treats to offer you a perfect mix of artisan products from small businesses within the Brecon Beacons National Park.

“I chose the additional products because they are high quality and handmade. They are all produced by fellow small businesses which are within just a few mile radius of the Black Mountains Kitchen in the heart of the Black Mountains,” explained Helen.

In addition to buying online you can now purchase Black Mountain Preserves from various local outlets, starting with Bakers Table in Talgarth through to Pughs and Castle Grocers in Hay, The Old Railway Garden Centre, The Gate Shop in Bwlch and Camden Stores in Brecon where jars and gift sets are suitable for all budgets and tastes. Orders can also be shipped or collected from Talgarth.

With the festive season fast approaching Helen has also been invited to be part of the Cywain Welsh Small food producers campaign #supportlocalsupportwales.

The ideal opportunity to celebrate Welsh food and drink at this festive time as part of its strategy to put producers in the spotlight, Cywain is calling on all shoppers to show your dedication to our beautiful country and remember whilst shopping for Christmas this year – ‘Keep it Local, Keep it Welsh!’

Small food producers have been invited to be part of virtual shops across the whole of Wales and Helen was very excited to see her Black Mountains Preserves here in the Cywain shop in St David’s Centre in Cardiff.. So if you are visiting Cardiff don’t forget to check out the Cywain store.

For more details or to order directly, contact Helen on 07740 026391 or www.blackmountainspreserves.com