Here is a list of other websites that you may find of interest. If you would like to suggest a website for inclusion on this page, please send details to info@northwessexdowns.org.uk
Organisations working locally and nationally to support sustainable food systems:

Big Barn
Big Barn is the website that gives consumers the opportunity to buy produce direct from around 5,000 independent food producers.
Tel: 01234 871005
E-mail: ant@bigbarn.co.uk
www.bigbarn.co.uk

Country Markets Ltd
Country Markets (formerly WI Country Markets) sell a range of baked goods, preserves, eggs and honey, garden produce and crafts. However, all Markets are different - the produce range is dependent upon local producers and their specialities. Visit the website to find the markets where you live.
Tel: 01246 261508
E-mail: info@countrymarkets.co.uk
www.countrymarkets.co.uk

Cultivating Communities
Cultivating Communities is a Soil Association project. The website is a resource for all community-based local food initiatives and can be used as a networking tool.
Tel: 0117 914 2425
E-mail: csa@cuco.org.uk
www.cuco.org.uk

Elm Farm Research Centre
EFRC is based on an organic farm in Berkshire. The Farm provides a base for EFRC's research and educational work as well as being a commercial farming and marketing operation. As an educational charity EFRC provides an Organic Advisory Service and Education Services.
Tel: 01488 658298
E-mail: elmfarm@efrc.com
www.efrc.com

farm
farm is a campaigning and membership organisation, fighting for a viable future for independent and family farms. It exists to protect and promote the interests of farmers, to get their voices heard by decision-makers, and to campaign for a positive future for farming, rural communities and the countryside.
Tel: 020 7352 7928
Email: info@farm.org.uk
www.farm.org.uk

FARMA
The National Farmers' Retail & Markets Association (FARMA) is a co-operative of farmers, producers selling on a local scale, and farmers' markets organisers. FARMA represents direct sales to customers through farm shops, Pick-Your-Own, farmers' markets, home delivery, on-farm catering, and farm entertainment. FARMA inspects farm retail and farmers' markets to ensure that they are 'the real thing'.
Tel: 0845 45 88 420
E-mail: justask_at_farma.org.uk
www.farma.org.uk

Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens
City farms and community gardens are community-managed projects working with people, animals and plants. They exist mainly in urban areas and are created in response to a lack of access to green space, combined with a desire to encourage strong community relationships and an awareness of gardening and farming.
Tel: 0117 923 1800
E-mail: admin@farmgarden.org.uk
www.farmgarden.org.uk

Five-a-Day Initiative
5 a day is the national campaign to help people eat more fruit and vegetables. Joanna Feast and Sharon Sexton are working with schools and communities in their areas.
South East Co-ordinator, Johnny Denis
Tel: 01273 403677
E-mail: johnny@foodandhealth.org.uk
Berkshire and North Surrey Co-ordinator, Joanna Feast
Tel: 0118 975 6396
E-mail: joanna.feast@btconnect.com
Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Co-ordinator, Sharon Sexton
Tel: 0118 975 5306
E-mail: sharon.sexton@btconnect.com
www.5aday.nhs.uk

Food Animal Initiative
FAI is based on an Oxfordshire farm, and is committed to developing new farming practices that are welfare friendly, food safe, and environmentally sustainable whilst helping secure the future livelihoods of our rural communities.
Tel: 01865 790880
E-mail: enquiries@faifarms.co.uk
www.faifarms.co.uk

Food for Life
The Soil Association's Food for Life programme produced Jamie Oliver’s Action Pack to improve school dinners. The Food for Life programme includes practical work to get fresh, seasonal, unprocessed, local and organic ingredients into school meals; and national policy work to put pressure on the government to provide a supportive framework for school meal providers.
Tel: 0117 314 5000
www.soilassociation.org

Food Poverty Network
The Food Poverty Network provides a forum, information, advice and a database for project workers, researchers and campaign groups tackling food poverty.
Tel: 020 7837 1228
www.sustainweb.org/poverty_index.asp

Foundation for Local Food Initiatives (f3)
f3 – the local food consultants, is a not for profit organisation providing consultancy services to the local food sector. FLAIR – the Food and Local Agriculture Information resource – is a partnership project led by f3 which aims to enable the development of a national food links network.
Tel: 0845 4589525
E-mail: mail@localfood.org.uk
www.localfood.org.uk

Henry Doubleday Research Association (HDRA)
HDRA is a registered charity and Europe’s largest organic membership organisation. It provides information and advice on how to grow fruit and vegetables organically, carries out research, runs events and courses, maintains the heritage seed library and supports a network of local groups.
Tel: 02476 303517
E-mail: enquiry@hdra.org.uk
www.hdra.org.uk

National Association of Farmers’ Markets – see FARMA

National Farmers Union
The NFU is the largest union representing farmers in the UK and provides a range of services to support the sector. The South East office helped to initiate the Berkshire Food Group, and supports the work of BBO Food Groups.
South East Office
Tel 01730 408 000
E-mail: South.East@nfuonline.com
www.nfu.org.uk

National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners
The objective of the Society is to help all enjoy the recreation of gardening and so promote their health, education and community fellowship.
Tel: 01536 266576
E-mail: natsoc@nsalg.demon.co.uk
www.nsalg.org.uk

Plunkett
Plunkett (formerly the Plunkett Foundation), based in Oxfordshire, advocates and supports self-help as an effective instrument for rural communities. Plunkett supports the growth and development of farmer-controlled businesses and enables rural communities to establish and run enterprises that provide them with essential services.
Tel: 01993 883636
E-mail: info@plunkett.co.uk
www.plunkett.co.uk

Rare Breeds Survival Trust
The Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) is the national conservation organisation whose aim is to secure sustainable futures for those native British breeds of farm animal identified as being rare and threatened within the UK. The Trust currently lists over 70 rare breeds (including cattle, goats, horses, pigs, poultry and sheep) using a set of guidelines based on conservation criteria.
Tel: 024 7669 6551
www.rbst.org.uk

Slow Food
Slow Food, founded in 1986, is an international organisation whose aim is to protect the pleasures of the table from the homogenisation of modern fast food and life. It promotes taste education, gastronomic culture, protects traditional foods at risk of extinction.
Oxfordshire Convivium contact is Tamara Schiopu
Tel: 01865 484116.
www.slowfood.com

Small Farms Association
The Small Farms Association (SFA) is a not-for-profit organisation representing small farmers across the UK. The SFA welcomes everyone who is interested in the conservation of the countryside, particularly those who manage their farms in traditional and organic systems.
Tel:01548 830302
E-mail: mary@small-farms-association.co.uk
www.small-farms-association.co.uk

Soil Association
The Soil Association exists to research, develop and promote sustainable relationships between the soil, plants, animal and the biosphere, in order to produce healthy food and other products while protecting and enhancing the environment.
Tel: 0117 929 0661
E-mail: info@soilassociation.org
www.soilassociation.org

South East Food Group Partnership
The South East Food Group Partnership (SEFGP) is an umbrella organisation funded by South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and was set up to support local food groups and producers in the South East of England. SEFGP also runs local projects that are funded by Food from Britain (FFB) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
E-mail: info@buylocalfood.co.uk
www.buylocalfood.co.uk

South West Food and Drink
South West Food & Drink is the ‘umbrella’ trade organisation dedicated to the development of the food and drink industry throughout South West England. It was created to ensure that there is a coherent strategic approach to the sector and is funded by South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA). The main focus for SWFD activity is on the food and drink processors and the marketing/distribution of products to their customers e.g. retailers and food service caterers.
Tel: 01392 878333
e-mail: enquiries@southwestfoodanddrink.com
www.southwestfoodanddrink.com

Sustain
The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improves the working and living environment, promotes equity and enriches society and culture.
Tel: 020 7837 1228
E-mail: sustain@sustainweb.org
www.sustainweb.org

Taste of the West
Taste of the West provides key support for the economic development of the Food and Drink industry throughout the South West - from Gloucestershire and Somerset through to Wiltshire, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. Taste of the West works with regional food and drink companies - from producers and processors to retailers and caterers plus associated businesses.
Tel: 01392 440745
email: enquiries@tasteofthewest.co.uk
www.tasteofthewest.co.uk

Thames Valley Farmers’ Markets Co-operative
TVFMC represent small producers and farmers selling direct to consumers at Farmers' Markets in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes and Oxfordshire. TVFMC also runs many of the Farmers’ Markets.
Tel: 0870 241 4762
www.tvfm.org.uk

Thrive
Thrive is the national horticultural charity enabling disadvantaged, disabled and older people to participate fully in the social and economic life of the community. Based at Beech Hill, near Reading, Berkshire, Thrive supports a network of specialist projects that run horticultural activity programmes for training, employment, therapy and health.
Tel: 0118 988 5688
E-mail: info@thrive.org.uk
www.thrive.org.uk

Wiltshire Farmers’ Markets
This is an association of 80 local producers selling locally produced products at 12 markets each month throughout Wiltshire. If you make or grow your product and you live in Wiltshire or are within 40 miles of one of the association’s markets you can apply to join. The association is always on the lookout for new producers with quality products.
Tel: 07775 614790
e-mail: info@wiltshirefarmersmarkets.org.uk
www.wiltshirefarmersmarkets.org.uk

Women’s Food and Farming Union
Founded in 1979, this voluntary organisation is committed to promoting an understanding of and confidence in all aspects of quality British produce. The WFU believes that by representing the best interests of consumers and producers, both the health and economy of the nation will benefit.
E-mail: admin@wfu.org.uk
www.wfu.org.uk

Woodlots
This website www.woodlots.org.uk/ is a Weald WoodNet initiative supported by Hampshire County Council, East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council, Kent County Council, the Forestry Commission and Woodlots Friends. It promotes the sustainable production and use of timber grown in South East England.

Local Community Council websites:
Community Council for Berkshire
Community Action Hampshire
Oxfordshire Rural Community Council
Community First (Wiltshire)