Local food and sustainability was celebrated on the Early May Bank Holiday weekend in Talgarth as environmental advocate and broadcaster Kate Humble lead ‘A Taste of Talgarth’ event at Talgarth Mill.

Around 80 people turned up on Sunday, May 3, to listen to a talk between Kate Humble and Ben Rawlence, CEO of Black Mountains College, on the future of food.

A walk followed the talk, where locals trekked through the countryside with stops along the way trying local produce. The walk was an idea from Kate Humble herself after being inspired by French communities who do seasonal food walks.

The whole event was in aid of Talgarth Mill, which is after vital funds to keep the historic mill running.

Sarah Walter Jones, one of the directors at Talgarth Mill said: “It was a really good and engaging talk, and everybody loved the walk that followed because it was people alongside one another exercising in the countryside. We had stops along the way at beautiful producers’ places, who made a huge effort to make these incredible bites of food.

“We had a special sausage with a potato salad on a stick at one. We had a bit of tortilla made with farm eggs and somebody made the most incredible apple cakes out of apples from her orchard and also a little bit of cider too and somebody else had apple juice. It was absolutely incredible.

“People were really well fed and learning about produce. The youngest walker was about twelve years old and the oldest was in their mid-eighties, so you had a really nice community cross section.”

The group then proceeded to Black Mountains College for another talk.

“Kate Hardy and Rashid held a talk. He was so knowledgeable about soil health, perennial vegetables, and he opened our minds into eating things that grow easily,” said Sarah. “People couldn’t get enough actually.”

Moving towards the evening, Trigg’s cafe sold out 100 kebabs as folk music played.

The event was rounded off with an auction by Ryan McCartney from McCartneys.

They auctioned weekends in glamping huts, canoeing trips, local arts experiences, local honey and a foraging trip.

“People were so generous and it was really fantastic, but the best bit was people saying ‘when are you doing the next one?’ So it was really good,” added Sarah.