v THE NEXT HERALD IS OUT ON 29TH OCTOBER v 8th October 2026 • The HERALD • Page 45 FOOD FOR THOUGHT New Forest Preserves Made By People With Neuro Disabilities Reach National Food Awards Finals nominated. I hope that we win. Hot Smoked Tomato Relish is spicy.” Tutti Frutti Jam is made with redcurrants, blackcurrants, strawberries and raspberries, while Hot Smoked Tomato Relish combines tomatoes, Bramley apples, onion, red wine vinegar and brown sugar. Wherever possible, the team uses locally sourced produce, keeping the connection between the New Forest, the ingredients and the people making each batch at the heart of the business. Katie Turner, Service Delivery Lead at Real Jam & Chutney Company, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the whole team. Everyone plays a part in making our preserves, from preparing the fruit and vegetables to filling the jars. Having two products reach the finals is a real achievement for everyone involved. One of the best parts of what we do is seeing people learn new skills and take real pride in their work. You can see what it means when someone masters a new task or sees a jar they’ve helped make ready to go out to a customer. To now have two of those products recognised by the Great British Food Awards makes it even more special.” e Great British Food Awards celebrate food and drink producers from across the UK. Winners are expected to be announced in October. Beer experts from across the South of England came together to brew a special edition beer to celebrate the 15th anniversary of local independent cra brewery, Vibrant Forest. e special edition brew, called Many Trees One Forest, was created at an event which saw 80 industry professionals join the Vibrant Forest team at their taproom in Hardley. Attendees included breweries, such as Elusive Brewing and Purbeck Cider Company, pubs including e Barking Cat Alehouse (Poole) and suppliers such as American hops company, Yakima Chief Hops. Vibrant Forest is known locally for its standout taproom events for the local community, and this was its rst industry event that the brewery has held. e event featured a walk in the forest, followed by a lunch and rare opportunity for people in the beer community to spend time together to talk beer. Many Trees One Forest is a 6% IPA made with hops from New Zealand and can now be purchased on Vibrant Forest’s online shop as well in bars and pubs. The unique packaging for the beer and commemorative poster, designed by Parr Studios - who have a long-standing design partnership with the brewery, includes the names of everyone who attended the event and brewed the beer. Ryan Dack, general manager of Vibrant Forest said: “In the beer industry, you don’t always get a chance to spend time with people face to face. We’ve wanted to host an event that brought everyone together for a long time. Our 15th birthday felt like the perfect reason to bring people together and say thank you for all the support they’ve given us through the years.” Two preserves handmade in the New Forest by a team including people with neuro disabilities have been named as nalists in the Great British Food Awards 2026. Real Jam & Chutney Company’s Tutti Frutti Jam and Hot Smoked Tomato Relish were both entered into this year’s awards and both have made it through to the nal stage of judging. Based in the heart of the New Forest, Real Jam & Chutney Company brings together local produce, traditional methods and meaningful training opportunities for people with neuro disabilities. People supported by Minstead Trust work alongside the kitchen team to prepare ingredients, cook, ll jars and get products ready to sell, building practical skills, con dence and experience along the way. Tim, one of the cooks involved in making the preserves, said: “I am excited that we have been Tim stirring a batch of jam in the Real Jam and Chutney kitchen Craft Beer Community Comes Together To Brew Special Edition Beer For Milestone Birthday own horsebox bar which has been popping up at festivals and sporting events throughout the summer. roughout its anniversary year, Vibrant Forest will be launching four special editions beers, including Many Trees One Forest. e line of anniversary beers also features a beer called First Settlement, which is a nod to a local iron age fort, as well as the return of Vibrant Forest’s rst beer, Mooncross, named a er Kevin’s famous garage. Vibrant Forest’s thriving Taproom, welcomes locals and visitors alike to come together and create unforgettable memories. Vibrant Forest’s Many Trees One Forest event Vibrant Forest was founded in 2011 in Kevin Robinson’s garage. Over the years, the brewery has grown into a thriving cra beer brand with a taproom beloved by the local community. Its beers are stocked in pubs, restaurants and shops across the UK and Europe, as well as Vibrant Forest’s Free Community Cook Ups e Waterside Food Project, part of the New Forest Aquaponics CIC family of projects, host a FREE Community Cook Up every Thursday 3.30pm to 5.30pm at Black eld Baptist Church on Hampton Lane. Surplus food from supermarkets that would otherwise go to waste is collected by volunteers and used to cook tasty meals. Go along for some tasty food and great company, everyone is welcome. e Waterside Food Project aims to reduce food waste across the Waterside and also runs Lucie’s Place in Black eld and the Community Fridge in Hythe Library. For more information please visit: www.facebook. com/Watersidefoodproject
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