I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to speak to a wonderful audience of 400 guests in St Swithun’s Church, East Grinstead, alongside Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on topics such as the importance of food to our health, the simple pleasures of foraging for food, the increasingly urgent need to support local food suppliers and our Sussex based farmers, and the UK’s food security.
Talking about his new book “How to Eat 30 Plants a Day”, Hugh’s infectious enthusiasm and reverence for food carried us along so brilliantly as he simply explained his compelling philosophy of “more plants, better health”.
It was also good to touch on my passion for diversity in food production, regenerative farming, and the climate impacts on our agricultural sector, plus how delighted I am to be part of the work of Wealden’s Food Partnership.
A huge thank you too to Helen Scott of East Grinstead Book Shop who could not have introduced and organised the evening more perfectly, and to BBC presenter and local resident Katie Derham who compered the evening and the lively, broad ranging Q&A discussion with flair and ease.
I shall be speaking at further events in support of our key local issues in the coming months.
Christina Coleman 