Hi there,
There’s something about this time of year that always lifts everything.
The light shifts.
The ground softens.
And suddenly the farm starts to come alive again.
This week we’ve had the cows and pigs back out on the land, and honestly… it’s one of those moments that reminds you why you do it.
After a long winter, seeing animals back where they belong — moving, grazing, rooting — it just feels right.
And it feels like a good moment to share a few things that are unfolding…
A moment worth sharing
I was recently invited to join the Top 50 Farmers Europe 2026 cohort.
I’m genuinely honoured but more than that, it feels like a signal.
Across Europe, something is shifting.
Farmers, chefs, and communities are starting to reconnect soil, food and culture in a deeper way.
And that’s exactly what we’ve been building here in the Chew Valley.
🎪 Valley Fest — don’t wait on this one
This year’s Valley Fest is shaping up to be something special.
But here’s the honest bit:
Tickets are moving quickly, and we’ll be moving up a price tier soon.
If you’re thinking about coming —
now is the moment to lock it in.
We’re putting everything into making this not just a festival, but a real celebration of:
- food
- music
- farming
- community
👉 Grab your tickets here before the next price jump
www.valleyfest.co.uk
🌿 Introducing: Wake the Valley
This year, we’re launching something new:
Wake the Valley
Inspired by the old West Country tradition of Wassailing — waking the orchard —
this is about waking something up again.
A gathering of farmers, chefs, creatives and land stewards
exploring what a regenerative future could actually look like.
We’ll be sharing more soon, but if you want to be first to hear:
👉 Register your interest here
www.wakethevalley.co.uk
🍽️ Root Bath — come and taste it
If you haven’t been to Root Bath recently, spring is the perfect time.
The menu is shifting with the season,
the produce is starting to come alive again,
and the team are creating some seriously beautiful dishes.
It’s always been about one thing:
letting great ingredients speak for themselves.
If you’re nearby — or fancy a trip — come and experience it.
👉 Book a table at Root Bath
www.rootrestaurants.co.uk
And a little closer to home — we’re also working with Kelly’s Butchers in Chew Magna, bringing organic meat straight from the farm into the village.
Simple, honest food — properly sourced.
If you’re local, it’s well worth popping in, or order on our website for home delivery, straight to your door from the Valley!
🌍 Thinking longer term
Alongside everything else, we’re continuing to build the Forever Farm Foundation.
At its heart is a simple question:
What would it mean to care for this land properly over the next 100… even 1,000 years?
When you start thinking like that,
your relationship with the land changes.
You move from short-term gain to long-term care.
From extraction to stewardship.
From ownership to responsibility.
And perhaps most importantly —
you start to think about what you’re leaving behind.
That question changes how you farm.
How you think.
And what you prioritise.
🌞 A season of energy
Spring always feels like a reset.
More light.
More movement.
More possibility.
And right now, it feels like that energy is not just in the fields —
but in everything we’re building.
If you’re planning to come to Valley Fest — don’t leave it too late.
If you’ve been meaning to visit Root — now’s a great moment.
And if you’re curious about where all this is heading — stay close.
Because something is growing here.
And it’s only just getting started.
Because if we care for the soil…
the soil will care for us.
Luke
