Shropshire Potato Days 2011

Shropshire is fast becoming a hot bed for the humble spud, thanks to some enthusiastic folk from the Shropshire Organic Gardening Society there is now an annual event every February in Nescliffe.  It attracts people from all over Shropshire and beyond who want to get their earlies in early and it not only sells over 50 different varieties of earlies, second earlies, maincrop and salad potatoes (most of which have been grown organically) but also features related activities all with a potato theme.

We normally go along and do a stall on home composting at this annual event at Nescliffe Village Hall.  Though it may be somewhat preaching to the converted its a lovely day out and even experienced gardeners find they can also learn a little bit more about home composting. 

Our very own nationally regarded potato guru and Master Composter Major (retired) Andy McQueen is also able to offer expert advice on all potato matters.

Whats really pleasing to see now though is that the event is so successful its attracting literally hundreds of people and its getting busier and bigger each year.  Increasingly as enthusiasm for growing your own spreads there is a wide range of people attending. 

And due to the success of the Nescliffe event the Shropshire Wildlife Trust have started hosting their own version at their Shrewsbury HQ each year now too.  At these events you can buy individual tubers lose, like a kid in sweet shop, its fantastic.  Shropshire Master Composter Caroline Pond (posing below with a bag of spuds) who also works at the Wildlife Trust has been heavily involved in organising this event.

Volunteers from Shropshire Master Composters went along with our home composting display boards.  It was a really nice day, though it was freezing cold !  We spoke to nearly 100 people and I reckon three times that number passed through on the day, a fantastic success.  

On the same day there was also a really well attended Potato Day event organised at the market in Wellington, Telford by the Wrekin Co-operative Allotment Society which again apparently was very well attended.

So...we now have one in the north of Shropshire, one in Telford and one in Shrewsbury right in the middle part of the county.  I reckon to cover all bases we just need to get one organised in the south of the county now... Surely Ludlow with its national reputation as a centre of food excellence would be an ideal location for such an event.  Any takers?