PICTURE the scene, You arrive at one of the best hidden, but most beautiful spots in rural north Herefordshire where an array of the finest local food and drink has been painstakingly assembled to ensure a carefully selected range of flavours.

The aroma of sweet summer fruits, fine wines from the Wye Valley and crisp local ciders fill the air. They wait to be sampled along with delicately smoked seafood, speciality breads, lightly minted lamb and countless other offerings.

Every bite bears testament to the skill of the producers who put their heart and souls into every flavoursome mouthful.

After some light sampling, you sit with a glass of local ale and listen to the brass band play for a while before watching a Thai cookery demonstration and browsing the bespoke arts and crafts marquee, lingering in the antiques area.

You head for a stroll around the beautiful nearby lake before returning to peruse the horticultural exhibits, pausing to take in the scent of the award-winning herbs. You sample some more food, something sweet this time – organic ice cream or local chocolate – before choosing some of your favourite items to take home with you...

That’s the idyllic picture promised by organisers of this year’s annual Shobdon Food Festival which, to mark 30 years of flower festivals in the village, will be accompanied by stunning floral arrangements in and around the unique parish church.

Alongside the food producers, some of the finest local chefs will be on hand to demonstrate their skills along with craftspeople and musicians brought together over a weekend designed to champion the work of local artisans while raising money for charity.

Organiser Matt Teale said: “It’s taken us a long time to establish ourselves as part of the foodie calendar, but this year things have really taken off.

“We not only want to offer visitors the chance to taste the finest range of local produce available, but we also want to provide them with a relaxed, friendly environment within which to do it.”

Some of the most eye-catching new exhibitors to Shobdon this year include the Ludlow Traditional Smokehouse. Based in Wigmore, north Herefordshire, its commitment to ethical sourcing and traditional methods underpins amazing products such as kiln roast smoked salmon, port and thyme marinated smoked venison and smoked Herefordshire hop cheese.

Also new to the fold, Fresh ‘n’ Fruity offers smoothies and milkshakes made from only local fruit and dairy, while Deli Tinto is a local delicatessen famed for sourcing the finest foods from France, Spain, Italy and Greece.

There is also a greater emphasis on watching and learning this year as well.

Matt said: “We’ve added a number of exhibits, both craft and food where visitors get to see the processes involved, whether wood carving, wool spinning or painting.

“Children can sign up to a cookery lesson in the Easy Peasy cookery theatre and you can even learn how to build your own clay oven – although, if that sounds like too much effort, you can just sample the traditional wood-fired pizzas they’re producing to demonstrate how they work.

“We’ve also got a greater range of musical treats in store including a Jazz Night and Grand Auction on the Saturday evening. We’ll be kicking off the weekend with the Arrowvale Young Musicians’ Concert on the Friday night and are thrilled to welcome the prestigious Hereford Cathedral Choir to our Festival Evensong service to close the event on the Sunday evening.”

Other attractions across the weekend include a large collection of vintage vehicles and children’s entertainment. There will also be an opportunity to enjoy the inside of Shobdon’s unique church, which is about to re-open following months of maintenance and decorative restoration. The church is where you will find dozens of stunning floral displays along the rather apt theme of New Beginnings.

n Shobdon Food and Flower Festival is from June 22 to 24.

For more information, call Terry Teale on 01568 708725, email shobdonfoodfestival@ gmail.com or visit shobdonfestival.com.