celebrating-poundbury-magazine

26// Celebrating PoundburyTime toCELEBRATEDORSETIt’s no secret that Dorset has some of the best food producers in the country. Coupled with acounty full of incredible artists and you have the makings of a brilliant festivalThat was the plan fouryears ago when theDorset Farmers' Marketcame together with theDuchy of Cornwall toplan a free festival. Sincethen, the Dorset Food& Arts Festival has gone from strength tostrength, and in 2015 it boasts an impressiveline up of Dorset chefs and producers.Foodies and families flock to a bustlingQueen Mother Square to purchase freshlobster, crab, fine cheese and artisan baker’sgoods. Over the last few years the festivalhas become one of the showcase eventsfor Dorset Food and Drink and thereforeattracts an array of different producers.The 2015 event is all day Saturday, August 1from 9am to 9pm with celebrity chef LesleyWaters opening the day. The Dorset basedchef, who runs her Lesley Waters CookerySchool, said: “I’m really interested in whatis going on in Poundbury. It has becomequite foodie there which is attracting a lotof new people. The produce at the festival isamazing, it’s a real showcase event.”Live music adorns the stage all day with ajazz street band in the evening.The festival is managed by a committee ofvolunteers and last year raised £3,000 forlocal charity Weldmar Hospicecare Trust.But the event is not just for food lovers. It hasbecome increasingly popular with familiesthanks to a children’s area offering arts andcrafts, plant a pot and cooking.Christine Walsh, of the Duchy of Cornwall,Poundbury, said the festival is only possiblebecause of the dedication of the volunteers:"The festival has grown to become the keycommunity event in Poundbury’s calendarand we hope this will continue," she says."It is a great display of not only fine Dorsetproduce and arts but also Poundbury andQueen Mother Square in particular. Theevent is free on entry and most importantlyraises funds for local charities, who this yearare Weldmar Hospice Care, the Steve CharlesHelp a Friend and Artreach."w www.dorsetfestival.orgwww.facebook.com/dorsetfestival@DorsetFestivalPhotography by Helen JamesFROM FINAL CHECK FOLDER27