Somerset’s first food trail event, Eat the Landscape, will take place this summer from Friday July 20 to Sunday July 29, 2018, with dozens of food producers opening their doors to the public.

Eat the Landscape celebrates the best of locally produced, delicious and sustainable food by showcasing Somerset’s farmers and producers as well as its retailers, cafés, pubs and restaurants.

Participants range from goat herders, cider makers and dairy farmers to cheesemakers, pubs, vineyards, artisan bakers and vegetable growers.

The food trail will see farmers and food producers opening their doors to the public at set times during the 10-day period. Participating pubs, cafés and restaurants will offer a special menu featuring locally sourced food during the event.

There will also be a series of activities such as picnics, vineyard and mill tours and pizza making. The event is mostly free to visitors, with a modest charge for some special events.

The event is organised by a group of community organisations including Wells Food Network, Reimagining The Levels, Somerset Community Food, Somerset Food Direct and Green Wedmore.

Wells Food Network chair Stewart Crocker said: “Food and farming have always been a vital part of the life of Somerset, shaping both our landscape and our economy for generations. Yet our food and farming system is under pressure as never before and diet-related health problems, such as type two diabetes and obesity, are on the rise.

“We believe that by putting healthy, sustainable food at the heart of all we do, we can strengthen our communities, conserve our countryside and boost our local economy.

“Eat the Landscape celebrates the great work being done by so many small-scale Somerset producers who are working hard to produce the best product they can while also enhancing our landscape, protecting biodiversity, farming to high welfare standards, reducing food miles – and, of course, producing delicious food and drink.

This first food trail mainly focuses on Mendip and surrounding areas, ranging from Wells, Wookey and Wedmore to Shepton Mallet, Bruton and the Brue Valley. However, if the event is as successful as the organisers anticipate, it will become an annual event, expanding to other parts of Somerset.