New food map pinpoints local community food projects

A Newtown-based organisation has launched an interactive map highlighting the growing network of community food projects, growers, producers and events across Powys.

Bwyd Powys Food, which is hosted by the local co-operative Cultivate on Llanidloes Road, has unveiled the Powys Food Map as part of its work to connect and promote the county’s food system. The map lists community gardens, allotments, local food suppliers, markets, food festivals and initiatives such as food banks and community fridges. Organisers say it aims to make it easier for people to find fresh, sustainable and locally produced food while encouraging more collaboration between groups.

The launch is part of the Powys Food Strategy and Action Plan, which Bwyd Powys Food has been working on since its formation in 2022. The strategy, launched last year, aims to promote healthy eating, support local producers, and improve access to good food for communities across the county. It also aims to highlight Powys’s food culture and heritage, encourage seasonal eating, and improve community health and well-being.

Chloe Masefield, Bwyd Powys Food Coordinator for South Powys, said the map is designed to bring together the often unseen work in towns and villages. “The map offers an exciting opportunity to visualise all the incredible community activity happening across Powys on food. We hope to use it to support communities that are already active in this space and target areas where there is little or no activity,” she said.

The interactive map will be regularly updated and organisers are urging community groups, food producers and event organisers to get in touch if they are not yet listed. The aim is to build a complete picture of the county’s food network, from small community allotments to large-scale events and suppliers.

Cultivate, which hosts Bwyd Powys Food from its Newtown base, has promoted sustainable food production for many years. The co-operative runs its community garden and shop, supplies local produce, and works to connect people with growers and suppliers throughout the area. It is part of a wider movement in Powys encouraging people to eat seasonally, reduce food miles and support local farmers and producers.

Bwyd Powys Food was established in March 2022 as the Sustainable Food Partnership for Powys. Its vision is for local, sustainable, healthy food to support communities, people, and the environment. It works towards creating a stronger local food economy, rewarding producers and growers, and ensuring that good food is accessible to everyone.

More details can be found here: www.cultivate.uk.com/bwyd-powys-food/