HEAD for the Lyth Valley this weekend (Saturday, April 21) and one of the best local food celebrations around - Damson Day.

Organised by the Westmorland Damson Association, the festival is a chance to taste a variety of food and drink made with this delicious fruit - damson gin, wine and liqueurs, for example, as well as damson bread, ice cream, chutneys, vinegars, syrups, pies and chocolates too.

Damson Day will also feature lots of country craft demonstrations, children's activities, and damson trees for sale so you can start your own orchard, with some timely advice from the experts.

It is also hoped to launch a scheme for people to sponsor a damson tree by purchasing a tree in one of the well-established orchards in the Lyth Valley.

The event, which runs from 10.30am through to 4pm, is held at Low Farm, on the A5074, just off the A590.

Damsons have a starring role in the new 'produce flag' which has been constructed by the NFU to mark its Why Farming Matters campaign (illustrated).

All the produce in the flag is of UK origin and includes Wensleydale cheese, mushrooms, red potatoes, raspberries, tomatoes, duck eggs and red onions.

Why Farming Matters aims to give everyone a much clearer idea of the contribution that farming makes to the economy, to the quality and security of our food supplies, to the beauty and diversity of our countryside, to combating climate change and to the rural economy.

It is a campaign which has the backing of that champion of local food heroes, Rick Stein, no stranger to damson day celebrations himself.

When he was putting together the television programme of the same name, Mr S visited the Lyth Valley to film the occasion for his TV series.