Mill Featured on Two TV Shows!

East Devon's Otterton Mill is to feature in 2 forthcoming TV programmes. The first is a new programme for CITV that gives nine children the chance to try life on the farm and find out where their food comes from. "Farm Camp" is an exciting new show by Handle and Spout production for CITV, in association with Morrisons supermarkets. Its aim is to introduce children to the journey of a wide range of foods from the farm, or sea, to the plate. The Mill will also feature on BBC South West's Spotlight programme after presenter Victoria Graham spent a day there working with the volunteer millers.

Farm Camp is a brand new and unique show which takes nine plucky children aged between nine and twelve as they embark on a unique adventure of discovery - swapping their city lives for country living to follow the real life story of just where their food comes from! The filming of Farm Camp, took place at Bicton College's Home Farm for two weeks this summer. The childrens' time was spent working on the farm with Bicton's energetic farmer and with the team at neighbouring Otterton Mill. They also visited the sites of several of the Mill's food producing partners. "We are regularly recognised for our local sourcing practices at the Mill. This programme provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase our own artisan food production and that of several of our closest suppliers to a new audience of children", said Simon Spiller, co-owner of the Mill with wife Caroline.

The children had a great time making flour using the Mill's ancient water-powered process, baking bread with Head Baker, Roy Hamilton, and cooking a roast meal with the Mill's chefs. They also dug vegetables with market gardener Edgar Berry, of Newton Poppleford, and fished on a trawler arranged by Devon Quality Fish of Exmouth. "These were experiences of a lifetime and we hope they go some way towards helping future generations appreciate the value of fresh food, produced or sourced locally" added Simon. "We often host school and youth groups at the Mill to introduce children to milling and baking, and they always love the simplicity of these processes. We are delighted these ancient crafts will be introduced in a fun way by the Farm Camp programme to a wider audience of children across the UK."

Farm Camp begins transmitting on Monday, 19th October, at 5p.m. on the CITV channel and carries on every weekday until 30th October. It will then be repeated another two times starting from Monday 2nd November at 3.35 p.m. It was produced in association with Morrisons as part of its Let's Grow campaign. Children across the nation can also get hands-on experience of growing their own food with Morrisons Let's Grow campaign.

Also during the week of 19th October, the Mill will be featured on BBC South West's Spotlight after presenter Victoria Graham spent a day with the Mill's team of volunteer millers. Victoria chose Otterton Mill as her first destination to help launch a Spotlight initiative to highlight the important role volunteers play in communities across the South West. "We were delighted to host Victoria and the BBC team. Our volunteer millers make a massive contribution to the running of the Mill, especially restoring, maintaining and running the ancient wheel and grinding mechanics. The Mill would literally 'grind to a halt' without their support and we are very pleased they, along with other volunteers in the South West, are being celebrated for their important contribution" said Simon. The Otterton Mill feature is scheduled to be aired on Spotlight on Tuesday, 20th October.

 

 

Date added: Monday 19th October 2009
Latest updated: Friday 30th July 2010