Burnham-On-Sea Food and Drink Festival and a new project to introduce more trees along roadsides in Burnham and Highbridge has been given a financial boost this week.
Burnham North County Councillor Peter Burridge-Clayton has presented £1,500 from Somerset County Council’s Health & Wellbeing budget to support the healthy eating initiatives that are a part of the two festivals planned this year.
The festival, which launched last year, was so popular that the organisers have decided to run it twice this year on 25th May and 28th September, with more venues, including the Somerset Skills and Learning site and a large outdoor market in Victoria Street.
The second project benefiting from the funding will see the re-introduction of trees that have been removed form curbsides throughout Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge.
The food festival will also be more stallholders, with more than 60 planned at each festival, and more competitions, including the return of The Great Burnham Bake-Off and the new Great Burnham Brew-Off.
Cllr Burridge-Clayton told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I am delighted to have been able to secure this funding from Somerset County Council’s Health & Wellbeing budget. I feel bringing a healthy eating element to the festival is a positive move and will also add to the overall experience of the day. Hopefully those attending the food festival will be inspired and take back ideas and incorporate them in to their own lifestyles.”
The festival will include food stalls, tastings, demonstrations, local ciders, beers and wines plus workshops with no entry fee for visitors. A number of new attractions will include the ‘KDS Interiors Fresh Ideas Stage’, where chefs and experts will demonstrate their skills and pass on tips for healthy eating to those on a tight budget.
Organisers Beverley and Sarah Milner Simonds are keen to hear from food and drink producers, restaurant owners, brewers, retailers and suppliers in the Somerset Levels area since further demonstration slots are available.
Beverley and Sarah are also working on another ‘growing’ project that the council’s Health and Wellbeing budget has benefitted, the re-introduction of trees that have been removed form curbsides throughout Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge.
Sarah said: “The support from Cllr Burridge-Clayton and Somerset County Council will enable us to work with community groups on this project in order to reintroduce trees to streets in our towns. We have trialed this successfully in one location and would like to expand the planting.”
Find out more about the food festival here or by emailing here or calling Beverley on 07973 378735.
