British Food Fortnight ends today!

Have you been aware that today is the last day of  British Food Fortnight?! Well, it began on the 20th September and ends today, but what it is all about?

British Food Fortnight happens every year and is the opportunity to celebrate some of the best food and drink in the world, which Britain produces. On top of that, the fortnight is also home to the 'Bring home the harvest' campaign, which aims to bring back the celebration of harvest and British foods across the nation.

If you've been aware of the fortnight then maybe you've been getting involved like many others across Britain. From making sure you buy local produce, to growing your own, to getting involved in a local harvest festival, there have been a variety of ways to get involved.

British Food Fortnight was started in 2002 with a group of 10 vicars who wanted to organise activities in communities across Britain for the national food promotion. It provides a good opportunity for individuals and those working in retail and catering to pay attention to where their food comes from, and to take steps in making their produce more locally sourced. More and more pubs and restaurants can be seen to proudly advertise their British produce, and the positive reaction this tends to have has in itself become a selling point.

Many retailers, large and small alike, have held special events over the fortnight to celebrate British food, and even schools and hospitals in some areas have had a special seasonal British menu to celebrate.

If you've missed the British Food Fortnight, don't panic, the aim is mainly to raise awareness of British produce, so why not see if you can buy all British grown products the next time you're in the supermarket to show your support, or buy from a local greengrocer, butcher, baker etc. You might be surprised at how much British produce you already buy. With food produce quality as high as it is in Britain, it's well worth it, and will taste great too!

Do you love the Royals?

If you are one of those camped outside the next known location of a royal visit and know the royal news before anyone else seems to, you may well call yourself a royalist. The term ‘royalist’ means to support a particular monarch or head of state, and although Kate Middleton isn’t Queen, many would today state that they are royalists due to being a particular fan of her. Interest and support of the royal family has always been there, but also peaks and dips at certain times. The wedding of Prince William and Kate was one of the more dramatic peaks, and now it seems Kate has her very own following. Her Royal engagements always see her being well received, and her recent visit to Bletchely Park was no exception. Kate was invited to re-open Bletchely Park, following an £8 million renovation project. As always, she greeted the public with smiles, and received flowers from children. Maybe the fact that she is not from royal birth makes her more relatable to the public, or is it actually a misconception that she is more loved by the public than the other royals?  

Despite this apparent love for Kate, both in the public and in the media, it seems her husband is actually the Nation’s favourite royal. A recent survey of ‘Britain’s favourite faces’ was answered by over 2000 people, and found that 68% of people expressed a ‘favourable’ view of Prince William, coming above the Queen who got 63%. The royal family as a whole came up far above many other faces of Britain, with the closest person to a regal score being Brian Johnson at 41%. So the question is why: do we like the idea of the royal family, or is it what they do that gets our support? Obviously everyone isn’t in the same boat with their support for the royals, but the whole country getting a bank holiday for the royal wedding probably gained them a few more.

What do you think?...