Talgarth Mill will host a celebration of local food and sustainability this bank holiday weekend, opening its doors on Sunday, May 3, for an event led by environmental advocate and broadcaster Kate Humble.

Called A Taste of Talgarth, the event will bring together residents, growers and local organisations to explore regenerative food production and community resilience.

“Talgarth Mill is a special asset to its community, a symbol of an enduring connection to the land and producing food. But it is also a place for people to meet, learn and showcase ideas and skills,” said Kate Humble.

“It is as relevant now as when it was built in the 18th century. I’m delighted to help ensure it remains a working and vibrant part of Talgarth in the 21st century.”

The event begins at 2pm with a conversation between Kate and Ben Rawlence, CEO of Black Mountains College, on the future of food. Drawing inspiration from pioneering initiatives such as Our Food 1200 and Boyd Powys Food, they will discuss climate excellence, affordability and the power of growing together, working towards an actionable manifesto for the town. Free tea and cake will be provided by the Community Luncheon Club.

Ben Rawlence, CEO of Black Mountains College spoke about the upcoming event. He told the Brecon & Radnor Express: “I’m excited to talk to Kate Humble at the taste of Talgarth event on Sunday, May 3. There is a host of great initiatives and wonderful food producers in the area.”

Ben is a writer as well as founding chief executive of Black Mountains College in Talgarth. The college is an institution devoted to regenerative farming and horticulture methods and finding creative solutions to climate change.

“What’s happening in and around Talgarth Mill is an inspiring example of local food culture that is gaining attention farther afield,” said Ben.

Think Like a Forest: Letters to My Children from a Changing Planet is a reflective book in which Ben uses letters to his daughters to explore parenting, love and responsibility in the context of ecological breakdown.

Following Kate and Ben’s conversation, at 3:30pm, Kate will lead a three-mile walk through the local landscape, visiting smallholders, market gardeners, and Black Mountains College’s polytunnels for spring vegetable snacks.

The afternoon concludes with a feast in the Mill Garden at 5:30pm. Trigg’s Café will provide seasonal, locally sourced food, including “20-mile kebabs” - veggie and meat - and puddings, alongside 10-mile cocktails, all accompanied by music from local performers.

At 7pm there will be a fundraising auction, packed with lots donated by local food producers and residents.

Children can enjoy trails and crafting activities throughout the day, while visitors can take part in mill tours and a “Be a Miller” experience.

Sarah Walter Jones, one of the directors about Talgarth Mill said: “We’re delighted that Kate Humble is coming to Talgarth this Sunday and she’s giving us a whole afternoon to raise funds for Talgarth Mill which is a voluntary run community centre which we’ve got quite difficult expenses, not least maintaining very, very ancient piece of engineering, that authentically mills the local wheat that we get from Humphrey in Llanigon.

“It’s a call to action because we desperately need some funds. Kate is a supporter. She’s going to come at two o’clock and offer her view on how we can grow more food and be more resilient as a country, and more specifically as a community. Ben will be in conversation with her and we are going to focus on town’s and the mill being the heartland of the town, as it has been for hundreds of years and making daily bread, which has always been a fundamental part of people’s diet.

“The talk will be Kate’s perspective, but we will also open it up, almost like a manifesto way to the audience to say what are you doing, what do you need, how can we knit this community together?

“We’ve got lots of different representatives coming from different food groups. Grow for Talgarth are offering teas, coffees and cake during the talk too.

“At 3.30pm the walk will go from the Mill into the mountainside and will stop and speak to producers where there will be pickles, cheese, maybe even sausage, and apple cake. The walk was actually Kate Humble’s idea to do this because she said in France what communities do is a walk from producer to producer at the start of the season and it basically brings buyers to growers and informs and educates people about food and how to manage it.

“Kate is a real local champion, as well as national champion for farming, community, food, and nature. This came about through one of our colleagues who was with Kate at a conference and just went up to Kate and asked if she would ever be interested in doing a talk for Talgarth Mill and she said ‘of course, I really like the Mill, I’d love to.’ So, she was completely generous with her time, and we nailed down this date and she suggested the walk.

“There’s going to be two sittings of a twenty-mile kebab and a ten-mile cocktail, which Trigg’s at the café have put together, so you can have your falafel for £20 with a pudding and buy a delicious cocktail as well and then Ryan McCartney at McCartney’s is going to head an auction at 7pm where workshops are available and nights stays away too, as well as lots of food as well.

“It’s going to be a really, really nice community focussed event and we just want to raise some money. We do have a few tickets left too!”

The walk will go ahead irrespective of poor weather.

Tickets are £15 for the talk, £15 for the walk, and £20 for the feast, with a combined package available for £45. Concessions are available for Talgarth residents, available from the Mill shop.