Let's Support Local This Christmas

Now more than ever is the time to support our local food, arts & crafts producers and shops. Despite the current restrictions many local businesses have adapted to offer home delivery and online payment and collection services to make local shopping accessible to all.

This Christmas why not look towards our fantastic local farm shops, markets, butchers, bakers and greengrocers as well as seeking out specialist, artisan producers.  There are many reasons why supporting local makes sense, but quality and personalised experiences feature high on that list – by supporting independent businesses you'll be dealing with people that care and who are passionate about going the extra mile.  You'll also be buying lovingly crafted products unique to the area, often supporting generations of entrepreneurs who are driven to provide quality and authenticity.  What's not to love?   Here's a spotlight on just a few of our local food producers, all members of the Forest of Bowland Sustainable Tourism Network, or for further inspiration visit: www.forestofbowland.com/food-producers

The award-winning Courtyard Dairy, Austwick stocks and supplies a carefully chosen range of unusual and exquisite farmhouse cheeses, selected direct from individual farms.  Order the perfect Christmas cheese board online from them here: https://www.thecourtyarddairy.co.uk/shop/category/buy-cheese/

Courtyard Dairy

 

If your favourite tipple is a G&T, then look no further than Bowland-based gin producers Goosnargh Gin, lovingly crafted by Richard and Rachel Trenchard at their micro-distillery, based at the foot of Beacon Fell.  This small business offers Lancashire-wide, non-contact doorstep deliveries and national postal deliveries, or you can buy from one of their many stockists scattered across the area: https://goosnarghgin.co.uk/buy

Goosnargh Gin



You can be sure of the quality of the produce at Gazegill Organics, their Rimington based farm has remained under the watchful eye of the Robinson Family for nearly 500 years. They follow an ethos that 'happy, healthy animals make better food with a traditional flavour'! Order raw milk, dairy and a wide range of rare breed organic meat boxes and products online: https://www.gazegillorganics.co.uk/christmas-38-c.asp

Gazegill Organics



Get your farm fresh Christmas meat ordered and delivered direct to your door from Bowland Outdoor Reared Pork, Beef and Lamb.   All their meat comes from their own animals which roam freely across more than 50 acres of lush farmland in Lowgill, on the northern fringe of the Forest of Bowland. Order direct here: www.bowlandpork.co.uk

Bowland Outdoor Reared Pork

 

Indulge in some luxury chocolates and treats all handmade in Slaidburn in the heart of the Forest of Bowland at the Bowland Chocolate Company. Angela uses natural, seasonal and where possible local ingredients in her chocolates, and her Christmas collection features Bailey's, cognac, amaretto and cherry bourbon – a mouth-watering combination!  To order chocolates visit: www.bowlandchocolatecompany.co.uk   

Bowland Chocolate Company

Support several local food and drink producers under one roof at the Bowland Food Hall, for Christmas you’ll find everything you need to create a tasty and stylish Christmas feast!  Shop online and have the produce delivered to your door the next day or click and collect from store.  Visit: https://bowlandfoodhall.com/

For gift ideas visit our directory of local arts and crafts producers https://www.forestofbowland.com/art-crafts-producers or why not discover something unique with a gift voucher for your loved ones to enjoy a break or experience in the beautiful Forest of Bowland during 2021, visit www.discoverbowland.org for ideas!

There are many fantastic initiatives to help you shop locally from the comfort of your home, including:

Enjoy the experience of supporting local and a Happy Christmas to you all!