Sun shines on Shobdon Food Festival after a tricky week (From Hereford Times)

Sun shines on Shobdon Food Festival after a tricky week

3:43pm Thursday 28th June 2012 in Local News

AFTER a stressful week of weather worries organisers of Shobdon Food and Flower Festival were rewarded with a little sunshine and an excellent turnout.

Visitors enjoyed a plethora of fine local foods from mouth-watering freshly baked breads, pastries, cakes, pies and pasties, to meats, cheeses smoked products and condiments, as well as a large range of locally produced drinks.

Add to that cookery demonstrations, craft and plant stalls and the refurbished Shobdon Church, bedecked in flowers, and visitors had all the ingredients of a great day out.

But waterlogged parking areas had presented organisers with a serious headache in the days leading up to the weekend.

And organiser Matt Teale said it took a tremendous amount of effort to make the festival even happen.

“The wet weather meant we lost all our parking areas so a speedily arranged park and ride system from Luctonians Rugby Club had to be put in place along with a few tweaks to the programme of events.

“We'd like to thank everyone who helped us keep the show on the road, particularly the public whose patience and good humour ensured we had a fantastic weekend, despite the best efforts of the good old British weather.”

The festival was rounded off by Hereford Cathedral Choir leading an evensong service among the flowers in the historic church.

The service marked the church’s successful renovation – allocated one of the largest grants ever awarded to a church by English Heritage in recognition of its at-risk status in 2010.

As well as raising funds for the church, the festival also supports local schools and clubs, as well as local and national charities.