Shropshire Potato Day replaced by socially distanced sales drive

Shropshire Organic Gardeners, which usually holds the county's famous potato day event each year, revamped its website so customers could buy online.

Rachel Strivens, the recently appointed chairwoman of the organisation, said it was a great day and they were happy to have continued the annual tradition the safest way they could.

"Normally we would have our big potato day at Wattlesborough Village Hall, but that was out of the question this year," Rachel said.

"We were still determined, mainly for our regular customers, that we should still be able to hold an event.

"If anything can come out of last year and Covid, it's just how important gardening and growing is for people."

With this in mind, the group wanted to carry on the tradition and so it instead took up online sales and held a pick-up point at Hindford Grange Farm, at Whittington, near Oswestry, thanks to farm owner Grant.

Rachel said: "We did a whole revamp of our website recently, which was a steep learning curve. It meant people could order online and we had a team of about eight people picking and packing all the orders up.

"On Saturday they came to collect them at the farm. It was just nice to have a chat with people really, and we got a couple of new members for the group as well.

"We started Potato Day here in Shropshire 17 years ago. I took over as chairwoman in April. The event started in Nesscliffe Village Hall, then went to Montford Bridge village hall, but it simply outgrew that place it got so big and popular.

"So then it moved to Wattlesborough Village Hall about three years ago. It was such a lovely atmosphere and we're glad we were able to do it."

For more information on Shropshire Organic Gardeners visit shropshireorganicgardeners.org.uk