August 2, 2011: Following the huge success of Sissinghurst Castle’s first Smallholding Fair last year, the National Trust has announced that food writer Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall of River Cottage fame will be the star guest at this year’s Smallholding Fair on August 13 and 14.

The Smallholding Fair promises to delight those who want to produce and rear their own food, as well as those who enjoy seeing local produce. It will bring together well known speakers offering advice and guidance, local smallholders with products to buy and sample, and demonstrations from flour milling to working horses. There will be alpacas for the children to meet and enjoy, and visitors can stock up on gorgeous Emma Bridgewater pottery at special prices. Hugh will be joined as a speaker by food and gardening writer/presenter Sarah Raven, Mark Diacono head gardener at River Cottage, Helen Browning Head of the Soil Association and local cider producer Simon Reed founder of Rough Old Wife Cidery. Speakers will be book signing after their talks, including the brand new River Cottage Fruit Handbook, launched by its author, Mark Diacono. Local smallholders will be selling good quality equipment, plants, animal housing, feeds, poultry and livestock direct from the producer. Finally the Smallholders Fair will be showcasing the finest the Weald has to offer, including a Kentish beer tent, a BBQ with locally reared meat, traditional English tea tent and delicious hand-made ice cream from Taywell’s. The Smallholding Fair is being held at Sissinghurst Castle (National Trust) on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 August between 10.30am-5pm. £4 adult, £1 child. For more information: 01580 710 700, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst