Dulverton’s ‘Secret Gardeners’ Donate to local Food Bank
Keen amateur gardeners from Dulverton have been able to write a generous cheque to the local food bank, thanks to the proceeds of Visit Dulverton’s ‘Secret Gardens’ event in June.
On Sunday 23 June, a dozen private gardens around the charming Exmoor town welcomed visitors from across the area. The event was entirely run by Dulverton volunteers and with the profits from the admission fee and refreshments in the Town Hall, Dulverton Town Council was able to donate £1250 towards the Moorland Food Bank.
Pictured above from L to R: Chris Nelder of the Visit Dulverton Partnership Group; Christine Dubery, Chair of Dulverton Town Council and the Visit Dulverton Partnership Group; gardener Adele Bain; Jenny Barker, founder of the Moorland Food Bank (formerly known as the Dulverton Food Bank); and gardener and food bank volunteer Allison Crisp.
The Moorland Food Bank was initially set up during the early days of the Covid lockdowns to support Somerset communities right across Southern Exmoor, including Dulverton, Brushford, Bridgetown, Brompton Regis, Wheddon Cross, Winsford, Withypool, Exford and more. The Somerset Community Foundation provided the early funding, and now it continues thanks to donations from generous private individuals, the Exmoor Rotary, groups of field sports enthusiasts, Exford Harvest Festival, Winsford PCC, the Co-Op and others.
Founder Jenny Barker said “We are very grateful to all those who are able to donate towards the Food Bank. It is a much needed service and we need all the help we can get! We are also desperately looking for a new location for the Moorland Food Bank, as we can only stay in the portacabin at Dulverton Junior School until next spring when it is to be handed back to Somerset Council. Any ideas warmly welcomed – no rent or council tax to pay please!”
Anyone requiring the services of the Moorland Food Bank is requested to apply via the local Somerset Village Agent, Nikki Bonner.
