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Busy Summer For Blaby Farmers’ Market

September event will mark 50th Farmers’ Market

14 July 2010    [Contributor: Sarah Wale]

Pupils perform dance
Pupils from Greenfield Primary School, Countesthorpe perform a
traditional Maypole dance

Maypole dancers, drummers and knitters have been among the special guests appearing at Blaby Farmers’ Market in recent months.

Along with the regular range of local produce, seasonal events take place throughout the year and this summer has been particularly busy.

April’s market welcomed pupils from Greenfield Primary School in Countesthorpe who entertained shoppers and stallholders with traditional dancing round the maypole, to the delight of parents and grandparents in the crowd.

In May, knitters from local knitting group Knit Pickers encouraged shoppers to take up the craft in time for Worldwide Knit In Public Day on 12th June, when they held an event to raise funds for The Children’s Society. Representatives from NHS Leicestershire and Rutland were on hand to recruit members for their ‘Be Healthy Be Heard’ scheme and offer advice on healthy eating and stopping smoking.

June’s market had a tropical theme to mark the arrival of summer, with an interactive drumming workshop from Talking Rhythms who performed traditional rhythms to get the party atmosphere started. Stallholders were invited to dress their stalls with flowers and Hawaiian garlands.

Newly appointed market manager Sarah Wale said:

“Our farmers' market already offers the local community a unique shopping experience where they can buy local produce direct from the producers, reducing food miles and providing a source of seasonal food.

"The themes to the recent markets have added extra fun and colour plus we have had fantastic weather to bring people out into the sunshine.

“Our producers sell a wide range of organic, free range and rare breed meats, vegetables, plants and herbs, cheese, preserves, pies, bread and pastries, home baked cakes and natural hand made soaps.

"We have recently welcomed two new producers, with free range eggs from Mill Farm in Gilmorton and a taste of the Mediterranean with The Olive Tree Company who are based in Fleckney.”

Knitters get picky!
Knitters from Knit Pickers Whetstone get crafty!

The calendar for the rest of the year offers further special events.

July’s market will have a ‘fruity’ theme, with local farmer Sandra Herbert making smoothies and summer puddings with fruit from Whetstone Pastures Farm, healthy eating tips and a fun fruit quiz.

The August Bank Holiday weekend market gives visitors a chance to stock up on Great British barbecue grub. Local group Morsbags will be making and giving out free eco-friendly shopping bags.

The market is now a collection point for unwanted fabrics to be made into Morsbags so shoppers are invited to bring along material to be recycled and drop them into the bin.

Meanwhile, September marks the 50th Blaby Farmers’ Market which coincides with Leicester Food Fortnight. Details of special events to celebrate the occasion will be unveiled nearer the time.

shoppers at interactive drum workshop
Shoppers enjoy Talking Rhythms’ interactive drum workshop

 

Blaby Farmers' Market is run by Blaby District Council in partnership with Leicestershire Food Links. It is held on the fourth Saturday of the month throughout the year at Blaby Social Centre car park between 9am and 1pm, while Blaby Social Centre holds an indoor table top sale and refreshment stall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Associated links

» Leicestershire Food Links

» Blaby District Council - Farmers' Markets

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