The experience with the longbow is entirely different to other bows I have used. There is no arrow rest so you shoot off your knuckles for starters and, in fact, the only thing that interrupts the sleek D-section line of the all wood, 6ft long, bow is a minimalist leather grip.

Starting in a purpose converted barn our instructor gave us a short history of the bow and its development before going over the safety information – these bows are definitely not toys and can cause serious injury if not handled responsibly.

A muscle, stance and draw warm up followed allowing our instructors the chance to observe and adjust our grip, or posture as necessary in order to ensure we used the correct muscle groups (more back than arms) and give us the best chance of hitting the target.

Instinctive archery works on the theory that if you are looking exactly where you want the arrow to go, are standing in the right position and draw and release smoothly then it goes roughly where you want it to. Adjustments need to be made for targets at differing distances and to allow for the more curved trajectory of a longbow arrow so it’s achieving a good grouping first that is important – you can adjust your aim from there. It became very apparent that consistency is king throughout the whole process but essentially the theory is sound and, much to my surprise, worked remarkably well.

As our grouping improved the targets moved back down the barn until by the end of the first session we had all doubled our initial distance to 20 metres – I think we were all suitably impressed with ourselves – especially my 10 year old daughter who was easily keeping up with the four other adults.

The next session, after our obligatory warm up, continued on targets to get our eye in again but after a short time they moved these out the way so we could have a crack at the 3D targets that festooned the far reaches of the barn. From various distances and angles we were now shooting at foam elk, bear, dinosaurs and turtles, targets of all size and shapes – this was more like it! It took a few arrows to adjust again but we were soon all peppering the kill zones and feeling like regular Robin Hoods….and then, just as we were getting a bit cocky, the apple challenge loomed.

Exactly as it sounds we lined up one at a time on the shooting line to take three shots at a life-sized foam apple that was over 20 metres away. Me first and, feeling surprisingly confident, I loosed my three arrows. I was slightly disappointed not to have hit it although that might have been asking too much at this stage – however, all three were gratifyingly close and I was happy that I had set the bar at a reasonable height. That was until my daughter stepped up and proceeded to put her three just inside mine and hold the winning position until the end. Victory was snatched from me by the width of an arrow but the fleeting disappointment was soon superseded by enormous parental pride and needless to say she was delighted.

Daisy takes the honours at the apple challenge

For the third session we moved into the woods for a taste of real field target shooting. The course consisted of 18 full size 3D animal targets each with a number of coloured pegs at varying distances. Depending on age if you miss at one distance you might move to a progressively closer peg and the scoring system depended on where on the target you hit and from what peg.

The longest range target – this one was 30 yards away

With other archers walking the course safety was paramount so rules about how to navigate around were explained before we set off. Distances and size of targets varied enormously as did the angle they were positioned at – some at head height and some on the ground. Being in the woods put all we had learned previously to the test forcing us to compensate for all those variables as well as introducing awkwardly placed bushes and sidewinds into the mix. A lot to contend with but everyone really embraced the experience and by the end I think we all made a good account of ourselves. On this day I took a narrow points victory so my nice warm victory glow, previously denied, was now fully restored.

Nearby targets need an adjustment in aim in the same way as far away ones do – just down instead of up

Needless to say my daughter and I now have the bug. There is something about the simplicity of the bow, how smoothly it pulls and the woodland setting that is instantly gratifying so we have both joined the National Field Archery Society (NFAS) and the Celtic Harmony club so we can continue to hone our skills. One day we might even manage to spear that mocking apple…. but rest assured I won’t be placing it on anyone’s head just yet.

Celtic Harmony is an award winning charity, providing hands-on cultural heritage education of ancient Britain to increase understanding of the natural world and create a more sustainable way of life for future generations. They organise events for schools, families, team building and individuals including archery, bushcraft and ancient crafting techniques.

The Hertfordshire County Show is one of the first major agricultural shows of the year and I always put in a appearance there as a member of the team at the Luton and District Poultry Club. It’s a huge event and always very well attended, largely thanks to the gargantuan effort by the organisers bringing together a great mix of livestock, demonstrations (such as the sheep show in the lead picture) and local businesses to create a real rural life experience. This year Pocket Farm held a series of poultry related talks and a chicken ‘clinic’ where visitors could come and get their chicken related questions answered.

The poultry marquee at the Hertfordshire Country Show 2015

Next month I’ll be at the Hitchin School fete where I have been asked to run a chicken ‘edutainment’ area. There will be a wealth of chicken related material and of course, a few birds too. No doubt I will take the ever popular Silkies which are always a crowd puller. The fact that I have been asked to do this demonstrates perfectly the rise in the public’s interest in the origin and provenance of their food. Helping to make this connection for children and adults alike is one of the driving forces behind the Pocket Farm site.

I am also running local chicken keeping courses in association with Handpecked Poultry Supplies to give people the hands on experience they need to become backyard egg producers themselves. At events like these you get to talk to people from all walks of life who share a keen interest in self-sufficiency. Just chatting to them really brings it home that, in this fast-paced and technology driven world, there are still plenty of us who want to step out of the hubbub and indulge in a bit of the good life.

Come and learn backyard chicken keeping on one of our courses

If you follow the Twitter account you may also have seen my cream legbar chicks growing up. They are now 8 weeks old and will soon be moving to their new home with the Mudlarks – a local charity doing great work teaching land-based skills to adults with learning difficulties. This very active group also run a café in Hertford town centre where they create wonderful food from the produce they grow. As they were getting just one egg a day from their ageing flock I was delighted to be able to help with some new blue egg layers.

The Pocket Farm Cream Legbar chicks ready to fly the coop at eight weeks old

The Internet is a great place to share information but it’s good to get out and meet the people you are sharing it with too. That’s not it either I’ve got some other very interesting visits arranged for the summer but more on this later….

I was excited and nervous at the same time as I set up in advance of the first attendees to arriving. Had I forgotten anything? Notes, refreshments, cake, chickens, everything seemed to be there… and then, so we’re the first attendees!

A small and very friendly group made for a nice personal feel, something we aim to maintain in the future by limiting numbers.

After a short introduction to myself, Pocket Farm and Handpecked Poultry Supplies I first determined what level knowledge or experience was in the class – all were complete novices. One family were still unsure if chickens were for them at all and were there on a fact finding mission to help them decide.

The hay barn ‘lecture theatre’ makes a very appropriate venue

Our introductory course consists of sessions on choosing your hens, provision of the correct environment, feeding and healthcare. Additionally there is a Q&A and a handling session before a visit to the main run to see some of the breeds available finishes of proceedings – all the fundamental husbandry information you need when starting out with chickens.

It was great to be able to answer some of the more specific or detailed questions that were concerning our attendees too, I always maintain the only stupid question is the one you didn’t ask – especially when it concerns caring for your animals – and I hope I managed to allay any worries.

Inevitably I’m sure I forgot to mention something but our courses don’t stop when you get in your car and drive off – we are there on the phone or by email for help or advice whenever you need it.

Everyone seemed happy and confident by the time they left so I tentatively judged the inaugural course to be a success. This was endorsed a couple of days later when the same family, who initially had some apprehension, bought a starter kit. I have no doubt that they will become as captivated by these charming birds as I am and what a great feeling to have given them the confidence to take the plunge.

Follow the link for more information, dates and booking

It’s inevitable I guess, but after nearly two years without any signs at all we have recently spotted a fox skulking around the chicken coop. After that amount of time you somewhat naively allow yourself to hope you’ve seen the last of ’em but there he was, brazenly eyeing my hens from a vantage point in the middle of the garden, mid afternoon!

And so the games begin…

Methods of fox control are copious, some are simply old wives tales or urban myths others more tried and tested. No doubt I will employ the ones I have found most effective in the short-term but the more I think about it the more it makes sense to just replace my own cunning with concrete.

A base of paving slabs under the coop will foil even the most determined vulpine visitor and, for a small run at least, it’s not a particularly costly solution. An upgrade to weld mesh from chicken wire may add a few more pounds to the project but I think the peace of mind with this new threat at hand is worth it.

I know it’s nature in action and that foxes are just doing what comes naturally – looking for the easiest source of protein. I am even willing to give them the benefit of the doubt on the presumption that they kill more than they need as there is good evidence to suggest that, left to go about their business, the fox would return for the other corpses and hide them away to eat later.

However, I’m not about to sit back and provide easy pickings for a predator that is renowned for their cunning – they can put it in to practice and find their street food elsewhere. A few bags of hardwood chips to cover the slabs and the girls will be none the wiser and as happy, and safe, scratching about as ever.

One side is pro the idea on the grounds that they suffer such unnatural conditions and laying demands that they deserve a taste of the good life when their hard labour is done. The other, while not disputing these issues, believe that the hens should stay in the food chain that they are destined for and that campaigning for higher welfare standards is a better use of resources.

Two completely opposing arguments from groups of people whose opinion I respect greatly. So I thought the question should bare some closer scrutiny. This article reports on the arguments I have heard but does not necessarily reflect my personal views or those of Pocket Farm directly. I’ll leave you to make up your own mind.

Note: While the article refers to these hens as ‘ex-battery’ this is perhaps a bit misleading as batteries were outlawed some years back in favour of new enriched or colony systems. The term for the purposes of this article can mean hens from any current intensive system.

The case against ex-battery hen adoption

This centres on the fact that these birds are bred to produce eggs and then go into the food chain as meat for various end products including ready meals, baby food, pet food etc. These hens probably wouldn’t find their way onto shelves as whole plucked chickens but will bulk out other dishes where appearance isn’t so important and cost is a critical factor.

They know no other life to the intensive farm environments that they are raised in and, as such, don’t have any comparison to make. When intensively farmed birds are taken out of that situation and then released into a completely foreign one there is an argument that this very gesture is in itself extremely stressful – the bird essentially having to re-learn all its basic functions including the fundamental ones of eating, drinking and sleeping.

A significant proportion of ex-batts will not make it past the first three or four weeks after release for exactly this reason. If we are going to credit them with human physiological needs, emotions and reactions it might even be that in the 18 months captive they may have become institutionalised. In those circumstances they may struggle to accept their new found freedom and have to live with that trauma – in the same way traumatic episodes can affect humans consciously or subconsciously.

Unfortunately, we could not produce enough meat cost-effectively by less intensive methods to meet the demands of the supply chain so there is a catch 22 there also.

These views were not entirely without experience either as many proponents had rescued intensively farmed hens themselves. One told me that she rescued 60, supposedly free range and organic layers, who immediately had to be quarantined away from her existing flock and subsequently destroyed as a large proportion were suffering with mycoplasma. With birds displaying signs of disease, comes the risk of infecting existing flocks. This particular discussion also brought to light another issue of the exact definition of farm standards as these hens were kept in barn conditions where dead or dying chickens were present  – not what I would consider free range or organic and not, I suspect, what the general buying public would think it’s supporting when buying products labelled in that manner.

Another related issue raised was that of bio-security when rescuing and distributing hundreds (or perhaps thousands) of birds at a time. For example, if there was an outbreak of bird flu, it may prove difficult to trace the source if large volumes of birds are being adopted, without paperwork, by the general public?

The case for ex- battery hen adoption

Everyone who was supporting the previous stance was sympathetic to the plight of these birds but were convinced the best recourse was to support a consistent, coherent and sustainable campaign for increased welfare for the flocks during their lifecycle. Organisations such as Compassion in World Farming are constantly working for improved conditions and practices around the world.

The argument for is that surely it is a good thing to want to provide these intelligent birds with the chance to experience a more natural existence for the remainder of their lives?

There is little doubt that conditions for chickens raised in many large scale systems are not conducive to instinctive behaviour such as scratching, foraging and perching and that overcrowded conditions can lead to feather pecking and other aggressive traits. In many intensive, so called enriched cage, set ups hens never see the light of day. Body clocks can also be altered by artificial lighting to achieve more eggs per day putting extra physical strain on them and there is lots of evidence to show that these regimes can cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies that lead to diseases such as osteoporosis. Even in systems that purport to be of higher welfare, birds are often encouraged to spend the majority of their time in enclosed overcrowded buildings.

In opposition to the previous argument, you will find many stories of ex-battery hens who have been adopted and spent many happy years as pets in wonderful loving environments. You will find that re-homing organisations are very aware of the potential stresses and provide advice on how to acclimatise them gradually to their new surroundings. There are also online forums and books specifically dedicated to the subject of ex-batts and their care.

Then there is the farmer to consider. A certain percentage of these hens must go back into the food chain by law but, already pinched by the supermarkets on egg prices, when the hens come to the end of their laying cycle farmers may be offered just pennies for the birds – sometimes it’s so little that it essentially amounts to free meat. Re-homing organisations will offer many times what the supermarkets pay, helping put some money back into the farmers’ pockets.

Of course many ex-battery hen keepers will also already be ardent supporters of welfare campaigns too.

So, there you have it, two completely different viewpoints both of which have compelling arguments. Which side do you support? Or do you think the balance is about right as it is?

I’d be interested to hear your views on either or both stances but please keep your discussions on this emotive subject reasoned and objective as posts with defamatory or expletive language will not be published.

I’ll leave you with the notion that whatever stance you take on the arguments presented here perhaps it is less about food for thought and more thought for food.

Kim is experienced in many aspects of farm life and self-sufficiency and is currently working to turn her grandparents’ 1800s farm into a working homestead. The book covers beef, dairy and multi-purpose breeds alike. The information is pitched at novices and covers all facets of cattle husbandry, with the emphasis on areas that will concern, affect or interest smallholders in particular.

The differing terminology can be a little confusing on occasion and there seems to be no mention of the registration or movement paperwork that we, in the UK, would have to complete as a matter of course. But this is by-the-by. This is not, perhaps, the best resource for prospective UK cattle keepers – I would actually suggest a practical course or shadowing a more experienced keeper as a far better option – but it does have some interesting information and viewpoints contained in its pages.

It suggests throughout that perhaps a larger proportion of ‘homesteaders’ in the US keep cattle than we would expect over here. This is possibly due to the fact that, in some States especially, land is more easily available at affordable prices and possibly because of the additional paperwork and testing for cattle in the UK when when compared to other livestock. Maybe it’s just a cultural thing.

Interestingly, the breed information, while peppered with familiar names such as Angus, Holstein and Jersey, describes many animals that we might not be so familiar with. Of particular interest was the section on miniature breeds. In the UK we would be limited to the naturally diminutive Dexter but, much as we might believe America is all about ‘bigger is better’ , they have spent considerable time and effort developing small versions of many other breeds including the impressive American Longhorn, Zebu and our very own Hereford. More on this in a future article.

It may interest you to know that, after efforts by UK breeders, slowly but surely, some of these beautiful ‘bantam’ cattle are becoming available here although, as yet, in very small numbers.They will be the focus of their own article shortly.

The book briefly covers other aspects of cattle keeping  that we might not necessarily consider too. Firstly, they have the popular spectacle of rodeo which glamourises the cowboy lifestyle with demonstrations of herding, roping (with lasso) and the testosterone fuelled spectacle of bull riding. Not something we health and safety encumbered Brits will expect to see on our shores any time soon I guess.

Outside of this, it does touch on the other more traditional uses of cattle as oxen and even for riding.

Here, in the UK it is traditionally the domain of horses to pull carts and plough fields but in many parts of the world, then, as now, cattle are routinely trained for these duties and perform them extremely reliably too. I myself would be happy to see appropriate breeds, used responsibly, in small scale systems, taking over at least some of the work that tractors or ATVs are now almost exclusively employed for. An interesting thought?

You can find the book on Amazon or direct from http://www.turnaround-uk.com/books/encyclopedias-maps.html priced at £4.99 soft back or £3.64 kindle edition*. Although not a hugely detailed tutorial it is an interesting, easy to digest, introduction nevertheless and, at that price, I would say it’s worth a read if only for the comparison between the two systems.

*Correct a time of publication

Firstly, I have got to tell you that there is scenery on the Islands of the Bailiwick that will take your breath away. Rugged cliffs, vast expanses of green fields, secluded bays and beaches that, on the right day, could be mistaken for the very best the Caribbean has to offer. I can’t compare to the winter months, having not seen it at this time of year, but during the summer the seas are the most delightful aquamarine and as clear as any I have seen.

A view across the harbour at the Islands capital St. Peter Port

The main island of Guernsey is only 9 miles long so you can drive around it easily in a day. This in itself is an experience as there are no motorways and it is quite usual to have to mount the pavement to allow other road users to pass. You hardly ever see a traffic jam and the box junctions work on a first come first served basis. Even the parking – which is free – works on a certain amount of trust. Each space has a specified amount of time that you are allowed to stay, you then set a cardboard clock showing the time you arrived and display it in your car window to indicate the time you should leave. You may be tempted to cheat the system but fines are strictly enforced I’m told! There are no such problems on Sark or Herm though – there are no cars!

Being that the Island is so close to Normandy, and considering its complex historical relationship with that area, it’s not surprising to see a French influence on the Island. The French language is spoken widely and there is even a Guernsey French dialect, Guernésiais, spoken fluently by a small percentage of the population. Nearly all the road names are French although, surprisingly, all other signage is in English, not French or even dual language. You can also see the influence in the food and relaxed atmosphere of the Island… although, thankfully, they do use pounds and pence sterling (albeit their own issue of the currency) and it was comforting to see orderly queues forming where appropriate.

The other culture that I found everywhere was ‘hedge veg’. Obviously home-grown produce for sale at the roadside is not peculiar to Guernsey but never have I seen it embraced quite as whole-heartedly as on Guernsey. You can practically do your weekly shop at the road side with everything from fruit, vegetables and eggs, to honey, cut flowers and cheese available – and yes everyone uses the honesty boxes provided.

A typical ‘hedge veg’ set up on Guernsey

And then there are the animals…..

The wildlife is as quirky as the road laws with the puffins taking centre stage between March and July. I did spend two hours trekking around the entire circumference of the mile and a half long Herm Island trying to spot the eccentric little blighters only to find out later that they had all buggered off the week before! It was a lovely walk nevertheless, with the discovery of the gorgeous Shell Beach a particular highlight, but I guess that is a lesson to always make use of the wealth of local knowledge first!

For the twitchers among you, you may also be treated to sightings of razorbills, terns, shags, fulmars, oyster catchers and guillemots with seals, and even dolphins, making an appearance offshore for those who prefer their wildlife more mammalian.

And yes, finally, the farm animals. While there is no doubt that all the offshore bank accounts and investment opportunities bring wealth to the Island, it truly is the fields that are awash with gold in Guernsey. The goats are golden, the cows are golden, the milk is tinged with gold and the pats of butter are like bars of the finest 24 carat.

It didn’t take very long to spot our first herd of Guernsey cows. These beautiful distinctive two tone animals are thought to be descended from the Isigny cattle of Normandy and the Froment du Léon from Brittany. Their rich milk, which has a reputation for being nutritionally superior, is all sent to the central Guernsey Dairy for processing into butter, cream, ice-cream and cheese. There are 15 dairy farms on the island with approximately 2500 head of cattle. Guernseys are the only breed allowed to be reared on the island and any new stock can only be imported from other islands in the Bailiwick such as Alderney and Sark.

More recently Guernsey cows are being used for meat too and, to continue the theme, it is characterised by the golden yellow colour of its fat.

Another highlight was a trip to the goat farm at St Pierre du Bois. Run by Mandy Girard and her husband Peter, who is president of the breed society on the Island, we had a lovely time feeding the kids and learning about the Island’s native goat breed the Golden Guernsey.

A Golden Guernsey nanny at the goat farm St. Pierre du Bois

A fairly small breed with a docile temperament, the Golden Guernsey was close to extinction at one point due to interbreeding. However, a breeding programme established just after World War II stabilised numbers and secured its future, although it still remains a minority breed on the RBST list today.

As soon as we entered the paddock the residents wasted no time in introducing themselves and they certainly lived up to their reputation for affection with one individual attached to my wife’s hip for the entire visit.

This attractive and undemanding breed is hardy, can be kept in a relatively small area and produce more modest amounts of milk than some of the larger, dairy specific, varieties making them ideal for smallholders. I can also testify that cheese from GG milk is just about as good as it gets – we tested it in this risotto recipe and the results were spectacular.

The Girards’ usual herd of around 25 animals swells during breeding season to about 75 with kids being sold to owners on other islands and the UK mainland perpetuating their hard work supporting the revival of the GG breed.

For more information on the farm you can visit the Facebook page here but more than that I would thoroughly recommend a visit to the island itself. It has so much to offer even the most seasoned traveller and how many places can claim that all that moos and bleats is, in fact, gold?

* The Bailiwick includes Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm as well as other smaller islands such as Becqhou the Island just off Sark leased by the reclusive billionaire Barclay brothers.

This revised and updated edition is arranged into distinct sections covering information that you will find invaluable when starting out with pygmy goats. Purchasing your goats, providing the correct environment, nutrition and health issues are all covered in some detail with many hints and tips, that only experience can bring, to be found in its pages. For those of you that already have some experience of husbandry but would like to extend your involvement to breeding or showing there are sections to cover these aspects too.

The book is illustrated with colour photographs, many of the author’s own herd, and illustrations that support and clarify the text wonderfully.

Clear illustrations and photopraphs accompany difficult to visulise concepts such as condition scoring

Useful appendices covering origins of the breed, breed standards, poisonous plants and useful contacts complete this clearly presented and easy to digest volume which is set to become a ‘go to’ reference.

Pat’s credentials in the field (no pun intended) are evident from her success in the show ring over the years but when you consider she has also held the position of membership secretary, editor and regional advisor for the Pygmy Goat Club it is hard to imagine anyone better placed to advise on the subject.

Pygmy Goat Keeping by Pat Mercer is available on ebay for £7.50 plus P&P. You can find it by searching the title within ebay or at this link while stocks last.

However, these days however with the help of vaccination programmes and good bio-security measures, salmonella really is a thing of the past and is now largely eradicated from British flocks.

That is not the end of the story though as there is another bacteria that has taken up the mantle and could now be present in as much as 70% of UK poultry. Campylobacter is a naturally occurring bacteria and is currently the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK. Although it can be found freely in the environment, other meats, untreated water, pets and many other sources, it is most likely to be encountered in fresh poultry meat – predominantly chicken.

It is thought to be responsible for nearly half a million cases of food poisoning, over 20 thousand hospital stays and around 100 deaths every year.

Due to its adaptive nature it is proving difficult to formulate a vaccination for campylobacter. At present the large processors of poultry products only real means of control are high standards of bio-security such as changing boots when walking between separate housing areas, good hand hygiene, rodent control and ensuring clean water supplies.

On a smaller scale, although it is impossible to guarantee that your birds won’t pick it up from the surrounding environment there are steps you can take to minimise risk. Keeping other livestock and pets separated from your flock along with a strict cleanliness routine can all help reduce incidence. If your birds do become infected you won’t notice as an infection causes no visible signs of ill health in poultry.

Although campylobacter is prevalent in fresh poultry meat thorough cooking will kill it off effectively and this along with good handling and storage practices should ensure that any illness is avoided. Remember that raw food should be stored below cooked food in the fridge and hands and work surfaces should be regularly disinfected when preparing food. Freezing meat should also kill the bacteria.

In humans symptoms of campylobacter infection include classic food poisoning presentations such as diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pains or cramps and fever. Many cases will recover on their own after a few days but if you don’t show any improvement or show a rapid decline in health with these symptoms you should be seen by a doctor.

The Joint Working Group on Campylobacter Reduction comprises the British Poultry Council, the British Retail Consortium, the NFU, the FSA and Defra and is working hard to establish effective methods of control. It will be hosting a conference on March 28 to share best practice and discuss current and future areas for development. The upcoming Food Safety Week, June 16-22 2014, will also highlight the problem and raise awareness of good food hygiene practice to the general public.

The conference has a full and varied programme of talks and workshops over the weekend of February 8th-9th and will be of great interest to anyone who is involved in nutrition, smallholding, alternative therapy, farming and medicine.

It’s worth a visit for the eclectic cafe menu alone but from an educational standpoint you can learn about natural beekeeping, goat keeping and keeping rabbits for meat. Outside of the smallholder specific topics you will also find many other specialist talks including those on the benefits of raw milk, traditional diets, tonic herbs and cooking and many others covering complimentary medicine and nutrition.

It’s the perfect place to learn about viewpoints that challenge current accepted thinking on all these subjects and more. There is then the opportunity to discuss the ideas further with the practitioners, exhibitors and other like-minded attendees.

As well as talks there will be practical workshops and demonstrations taking place throughout the weekend. The popular fermented foods workshops, previously covered on Radio 4’s The Food Programme, run over 3 days and let you get hands-on with fermented vegetables, tonic juice, condiments and Asian classics such as Kimchi (pictured above) and tamari sauce. Alternatively, if you want to find out more about cooking with offal, making sourdough bread or have considered starting your own micro-bakery, be sure to attend these sessions too.

When you are not sponging up the information in the seminars you can visit the exhibition area where you can meet the likes of Pammy Riggs and her traveling hen house, local food advocates Big Barn and representatives of The College of Naturopathic Medicine. You can even book yourself a spa treatment on the day. A full exhibitor list is available here.

It’s worth noting that this event is CPD accredited by the Association Federation of Nutritional Practitioners (FNTP) and British Association of Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy (BANT). It is also working toward accreditation from The Naturopathic Nutrition Association.

I look forward to seeing you there.