Yorkshire businesses contribute to Great British Wind Meal with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

Yorkshire coast microbrewery Wold Top Brewery was one of three Yorkshire businesses that was invited to participate in the Great British Wind Meal at River Cottage Canteen recently.

To celebrate the wind industry's role in sustaining Britain's farming communities, RenewableUK worked with energyshare and food campaigner and broadcaster Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to host a roundtable discussion and meal where the ingredients were donated by farms and suppliers powered by wind energy.

Wold Top Brewery had advance notice of the seasonal, wind-powered lunch and was able to select the best beers to go with the menu that included Vine House Farm organic cauliflower soup, Lower Gazegill Farm pork terrine, Ysgellog Farm lamb and desserts of Goat's yoghurt panna cotta from Seaton Ross business St Helen's Farm and Caramelised apple tart with Yummy Yorkshire organic traditional ice creams.

Wold Top Brewery director Gill Mellor was thrilled to be involved in the project and said: "In 2011, we became the first business in Yorkshire to install an E-3120 wind turbine on our windy, exposed site. We were so pleased with its performance that we installed a second one four months later and are delighted that our two turbines harness the wind as it blows over our Yorkshire Wolds farm to power the brewery, bottling company, farm and even to heat marquees for our events company.

Safeguarding the environment that sustains our livelihood is an important part of our strategy and we're proud to have to been invited to participate in this project to educate people about the benefits of wind power to food producers up and down the country."

Of the Wold Newton based brewery's involvement, Maf Smith, Deputy CEO of RenewableUK, said; "On behalf of RenewableUK and energyshare I'd like to thank Wold Top Brewery for donating a selection of their beers for our Great British Wind Meal. Their generosity has made this special meal possible, helping to spread the word about the benefits of wind power for food producers up and down the country."

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, food campaigner and broadcaster, concluded: "Wind power is an exciting and constantly evolving technology with amazing potential and we need to be open-minded and creative when looking at the best ways to produce and use it. The idea of seeing it as an additional 'crop' for farmers is an intelligent and timely one, and that's why I was delighted to be part of this RenewableUK event."

In its 10^th anniversary year, Wold Top Brewery has won three environmental awards - Best Green Business at the SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) Business Awards, Best Green Business at the Chamber Bridlington and Yorkshire Coast Business Awards and most recently, Best Green Business at the Hull Daily Mail Business Awards.