The sun shone as about 80 friends, neighbours, local residents and members of Teign Estuary Transition met to eat the first crop of potatoes, grown within Eastcliff Park’s walled garden.
The abundant crop of delicious red-skinned Sarpo potatoes were baked on a huge bonfire; Sian Avon, Senior Countryside Ranger for Teignbridge District Council, supported the event throughout the day and provided wood for burning.
The main event started at 3pm, with David Haines conducting Teignmouth Community Choir singing environmental-themed songs to celebrate the garden and its harvest, before everyone enjoyed the feast of free potatoes and salads, also grown in the garden. Surplus uncooked potatoes were sold – money raised will help to buy seeds to grow in the garden next year.
We are grateful to the local press for publicising this event so effectively. It was promoted beforehand in Herald Express and Teignmouth Post. The Teignmouth Post also printed a two-page picture-feature reviewing the day (see p 20/21, Friday 21st October 2011).
Photos by Phil Cross
BTW the potatoes are from Thompson & Morgan, are organic a mixture of Sarpo Axona and Sarpo Miro