It was good to see so many supporters of the RCF at the Royal Norfolk Show, including this year’s Show President, the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd, Graham Usher, and HM’s Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, Lady Pippa Dannatt.

Our Executive Director, Keith Halstead, was pleased to attend a focus group discussion on the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association’s Market Garden Initiative, led by RNAA Trustee, Michael Harrowven DL, to develop their conceptual thinking on this exciting development on the showground site.

The RNAA plans to create a thriving market garden adjacent to the Norfolk Food Hall that serves as a flagship educational, productive, and community-focussed growing space demonstrating how sustainable growing and horticulture can contribute to healthier people, stronger communities and a more resilient food system.

The RCF has supported similar initiatives through our Building Confident Rural Communities grant programme and we spoke with the RNAA team about putting them in touch with these projects.

Keith also spoke at the Norfolk Rural Business Awards, which celebrated the amazing businesses, community organisations, and individuals who are all making a real difference and promoting rural excellence across the county.

The awards were supported by Norfolk County Council, reflecting the Royal Norfolk Show’s theme this year of Culture and Collaboration.

Our congratulations to all the winners, which can be seen here.

You can find out more about the RCF’s work in Norfolk elsewhere on our website. Including, how we supported Norfolk farmers to better manage water on their farms; how we’re supporting farmers via our Routes to Regen programme; and how we support rural community groups in Norfolk.