National Trust opens up its larder to local produce

Feb 11 2008 by Jane Hall, The Journal

LOCAL food has been given a welcome boost with the opening of a new National Trust shop devoted to North East produce.

Gibside Larder near Rowlands Gill was officially opened on Saturday by Sandy Duncan, director of regional food group Northumbria Larder.

It is the second such endeavour for the Trust in this area. Wallington Farm Shop in Northumberland opened in 2002.

The Larder offers local residents and visitors alike the chance to buy some of the North-East’s finest foods, including fresh seasonal vegetables from Gibside’s walled garden along with beef and lamb reared on the Trust’s Wallington estate.

In the North East, the National Trust has been an avid supporter of local food for many years. The tea rooms and restaurants at Gibside, Cragside, Wallington and Souter Lighthouse all look to local producers as their preferred source of produce.

To supplement the local food offer at Gibside, a monthly Community Farmers’ Market is planned. The first will take place on February 16.

Gibside Larder is open seven days a week from 11am (10am at weekends).