From dark times to dark skies - resilience in the Cambrian Mountains of Wales

Collaboration between the Cambrian Mountains Initiative and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has resulted in The Cambrian Mountains Food, Drink and Craft Fair, to be held in the Elan Valley on October 23, between 10am and 4pm.
                                                         
During the dark times of the COVID-19 pandemic, local food, drink and craft producers in the Cambrian Mountains of Wales came together to create a virtual local produce network.
 
Whilst it was the dark times that motivated producers to join forces, it’s the world-class dark skies of the Cambrian Mountains that have recently inspired them to create brand new produce.
 
The producers will meet for the first time at The Cambrian Mountains Food, Drink and Craft Fair, to be held at the Elan Valley Visitor Centre, near Rhayader. Local people, tourism and hospitality businesses and visitors will have a chance to see, buy and order their dark sky themed produce.
 
The Elan Valley is an International Dark Sky Park, the only one in Wales and the only one on private land, but accessible to the public, in the world - https://www.elanvalley.org.uk/darkskies

The event celebrates creativity and resilience and highlights the importance of community cohesion in times of adversity.
 
For a flip-book of the brochure of Cambrian Mountains Local Produce, visit https://issuu.com/walkcambrianmountains/docs/cambrian_mountains_local_produce_2021
 
A video showing the produce available at the Elan Valley event can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuVztRdC4Fs .
 
The network of producers was facilitated by the RDP-funded Dyfodol Cambrian Futures and part-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, Ceredigion County Council, Powys County Council and Carmarthenshire County Council.
 
The project also receives support from the Cefn Croes Windfarm Community Trust, Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm Community Fund, Aberystwyth University and the Elan Valley Trust. 
 
Picture caption:
 
Local food, drink and craft producers are uniting for the Elan Valley event.