ORIGINS, AIMS AND WORK OF WOMEN WORKING TOGETHER in Devon

April 2006

In 1999, WFU members hosted an evening called "Dine and Discover" for local councillors, schools governors, teachers, officials and other community leaders at which a meal was served, all sourced, except where impossible, from local produce and the producers came and talked about their product during the dinner.

Following this, the local Chairmen of WI, TG and WFU met with the idea of spreading this idea through the county, with events demonstrating how locally sourced food could be used in simple, easily prepared family dishes to provide a healthy, nutritious and very enjoyable meal. The events provided demonstrations, tastings, advice on cooking and kitchen equipment etc. and have been well-received.

We have visited Family Centres, the University during "Freshers Week", done demonstrations at shows and at groups such as WI's and others. We are also now looking further afield to try to get those responsible to source local food for schools, hospitals and other communities.

In September, 2002 we held a Conference at County Hall, Exeter which focussed on the Regeneration of Devon, following Foot and Mouth and also gave each organisation a chance to describe its membership, aims and activities.

We held a very successful day in July 2003 on the Clinton Devon Estate on Rights of Way, Right to Roam, with the sub title "Will Roaming put Food Production in the Gloaming" where we had a walk on Estate Rights of Way in the morning and some excellent speakers in the afternoon.

In 2004 all members of the three organisations were invited to supply details of producers, retailers, caterers, and others who produce sell or use local food. Details are kept on the WWT database and we are working with the Chamber of Rural Enterprise to try to combine all local food databases in one publication. This project is still ongoing and we hope to hear of some progress before too long.

Of course all this needed funding at the outset, and we managed to persuade Devon County Council to give us a grant and Tesco and Waitrose also provided food vouchers. Since then the events have taken place with minimum expense and so far we haven't had to ask for further funding.

We have kept HRH Prince Charles informed of our activities since the beginning and he has been enormously supportive throughout, as could be heard from his letter read out at the "From Plough to Platter" Conference at the University in September 2003.

The three organisations have been able to pool and share equipment for these events and have certainly "worked well together" since WWT was started in 2000.

www.wfu.org.uk