Twyford

The Mayor of Wokingham Borough Council, Councillor Annette Drake will officially declare Twyford’s newest foodies’ paradise open this Saturday (December 1) while also helping raise funds for two of Berkshire’s leading children’s charities.

Cllr Drake will cut a ceremonial ribbon at the recently refurbished Twyford Food Market, next door to Wyevale Garden Centre on Floral Mile in Hare Hatch, at 10am on December 1 and will invite people to come in and taste and test some of the products on sale for free.

Assistant Food Market Manager, Keith Jordan said: “We are delighted the Mayor is able to join us for this occasion. The first 50 visitors in the morning will receive a free glass of mulled wine to help toast our opening. Proceeds from a raffle we’re hosting on the day to win an organic hamper worth £100 will be donated to the Twyford charity, Daisy’s Dream, which supports bereaved children and their families.

“We will also be selling a collection of Christmas cards in support of the Mayor’s chosen charity for her year in office, ‘Building for the Future, Wokingham’, which helps the Borough’s disabled children and their families.”

Daisy’s Dream needs £165,000 every year to operate. Fundraising support is crucial to sustain the Twyford charity.

Vickie Randall from Daisy’s Dream explained: “The organisation has undergone a major period of growth. To meet the current level of demand we need help. This can be done in a variety of ways including donations, fundraising events or volunteering. Raffles like the one being held at the Food Market can make a real difference to the life of a bereaved child.”

The vision of ‘Building for the Future, Wokingham’, which is an umbrella body including five other charities, is to provide facilities, which not only include obvious adaptations, such as full disabled access, but also a sensory room for more individual needs. The sale of the charity cards at the Food Market will help raise invaluable funds for the project.

Keith added: “Our revamped outlet, which includes a deli counter and a coffee shop, complete with takeaway service, allows us to extend our organic, locally-sourced product range.”

The Twyford Food Market now offers organic baby and children’s food, and the opportunity to order organic turkeys for Christmas.

Keith continued: “We’re focusing more heavily on sourcing as many of our products as possible locally to reduce the food miles travelled. We think it’s very important to consider the environment and the local economy, and to keep as much of our purchasing as possible within the neighbouring communities.”

Also attending the official re-opening ceremony will be Wokingham Choral Society, which will entertain the crowds with carols and other songs, and the Maidenhead Drama Guild.

Guild members will be in costume, including a pantomime horse, to promote their show entitled ‘Panto at the Ok Corral’, which takes place at Maidenhead Town Hall from December 12. They will also be selling tickets for the show on the day.

A selection of suppliers from the Twyford area will also be on hand to chat to customers about their produce and offer free food and wine taste and test sessions.

“We can serve more people than ever before in the run up to Christmas, whether they are shopping or dropping in to the coffee shop for a mid-morning coffee and pastry, a freshly baked baguette for lunch or an afternoon cup of tea with cake.

“In the Deli we can advise on the best cheeses for dinner parties and the bakery offers artisan breads baked in-store. We stock the very best fresh, seasonal and organic fruits and vegetables. There are also organic and fair trade grocery items including oils, chutneys and biscuits, and a great selection of wines and local beer and ales.”

For further details about the Food Market, please visit the store, which is on Floral Mile at Hare Hatch, next door to the Wyevale Garden Centre, or call 0118 940 4563.