15th July 2014
Kate Humble (Wild Shepherdess, Lambing live, Springwatch) today opened a brand new cafe and shop selling artisan and local produce from in and around South Wales at her farm, Humble by Nature. The shop was opened by pupils of Trellech Primary School who entered a competition to create a cake recipe which will then be sold in the cafe.
Set in the glorious Monmouthshire countryside, the cafe and shop is a new departure for Kate, who has until now been running specialised courses in animal husbandry, rural skills, and cookery. They host exclusive supper clubs and also have a suite of luxury self-catering accommodation available for visitors to stay in. Since opening in 2012 the farm has attracted hundreds of visitors to the local area and grown the number of different courses offered to over 30.
The new shop will be brimming with produce from local producers from across South Wales and the West, serving only the most local and fresh ingredients including food from the farm itself. The farm rears and sells its own meat and eggs, recently launched a ground breaking Aquaponics solar greenhouse and has cultivated an ‘edible garden’ which will provide fresh herbs, fruit and vegetables.
Kate, from Monmouthshire, said, “It seems odd to say it, but this is the first time we will be open to the general public. The past two years we have been running courses for people who come to the farm to learn a new skill such as shearing, cooking and small holding courses. We haven’t had an open door policy. The shop and cafe is the next natural step for us to take. Not only will we provide a showcase for some wonderful producers in and around Monmouthshire but we will give visitors the opportunity to sit back and relax in the beautiful surroundings.”
Mrs Christofi, Head Teacher of Trellech Primary said, “When Humble by Nature asked us to be involved in the launch we were delighted. It’s great to see the farm expanding and offering more for the local area, as well as offering a showcase shop for some wonderful local producers. The children have loved creating a recipe for the cafe and we can’t wait to taste the winning cake!”
The winning cake was created by Layla Rollings from year five,who created a chocolate, honey & lemon beehive cake.
Kate continued, “The children from Trellech primary came up with such fantastic creative ideas that we have decided to sell not only the first place cake, but also the second an third places during the summer holidays.”
Second and third places were won by Lenny Kilner with his sticky chocolate cake, egg and dairy free and Ella Mae de St. Croix with her Humble Jumble Cake.
Angharad Underwood from the Preservation Society who will be supplying jams and marmalades to the shop said, “Humble by Nature is a wonderful place for all the family as well as those wanting to learn specialised skills. Monmouthshire is jam-packed with producers and we are delighted to be one of the ones chosen to sell in the shop.”
If you are a producer and you would like to showcase your produce in the shop or help supply the cafe, please do get in touch with the team at Humble by Nature, they would love to hear from you.
The new cafe and shop will initially be open three days a week on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 – 4pm from the 18th July.