A NEW edible Hexham trail has been launched with the aim to inspire people to grow their own and help reduce food miles.

The new two-mile trail mixes local food history with a walk around all the edible Hexham beds and the community garden. 

You can pick up recipes using ingredients from the beds en route and there’s an extension to Tyne Green and the Community Orchard.

The Trail is being launched at the Hexham Farmers Market this Saturday, 11th September, as part of Heritage Open Days. Copies will be available on the Transition Tynedale stall and can be downloaded from the Transition Tynedale and Visit Hexham website and Visit Hexham App. 

Edible Hexham has been going since 2014 when a few local Transition Tynedale members visited and were inspired by ‘Incredible Edible Todmorden’ in West Yorkshire.

The Edible Hexham beds dotted around the town are looked after by Transition Tynedale volunteers and everyone is invited to pick and use the various leaves, herbs and fruit that grow in them. New volunteers are always welcome.

Recipes created for Transition Tynedale by Jane Torday, local food writer and Edible Hexham volunteer, take things one step further and give some yummy ideas for using those herbs and leaves that can be picked so freely. 

The Edible Hexham Trail and the recipes combine to give ideas for a new way to walk and explore Hexham, to discover corners that people may not know about and ideas for growing and using more locally grown produce. 

The launch of the Edible Hexham Trail is part of Heritage Open Days which has an ‘Eating for England’ theme this year.

The Hexham Community Partnership has collated a programme of events for the week, available on the Visit Hexham website. More information about Transition Tynedale activities and Edible Hexham can be found on the Transition Tynedale website and Facebook page.