Regional grain gatherings

At the end of Sourdough September, I spent a couple of days away from my laptop as an observer at two fab gatherings of farmers, millers, bakers and other folk, who care about how, where and by whom food is made.

As we’ve been reporting for years, around the UK is a growing grassroots movement uprising of people working to select and grow grain, then get it onto people’s tables, in ways that are (to echo the Real Bread Campaign’s own mission statement) better for us, better for our communities and better for the planet.

It was great to spend time catching up with two of the regional collectives, chatting about opportunities, obstacles, progress to date and coming up with plans for next steps.

Go west, Young man

On Monday 28 September 2026, I was kindly allowed to gatecrash the South West Grain Network’s (SWGN) first Annual General Meeting, hosted by Dr Ai-Ling Lai at the University of Bristol’s new site. Having previously decided to formalise membership, the group of around 50 SWGN-ers discussed what form it could take. Marshalled by network coordinator Robyn Minogue, the group also considered how their activity might be funded in the future, to supplement or replace income from the True South West Flour project.  Honourable mention, too, to Real Bread Campaign supporter Hart’s Bakery for a delicious lunch, which showcased 

Since I first sat down to jot down these notes, Steph Wetherell, SWGN’s new comms person, published a detailed account of the day. Rather than me duplicating her fine work, you can read the update on SWGN’s Substack.

Facebook album of photos from the day

Hearts to Herts

The following day, I was over towards the other side of England with around 40 EAGA beavers at Hertfordshire, as the guests of Gilchesters Organics owners Laura and Oscar Harding at Duchess Farms. A key aim was to discuss how the East Anglian Grain Alliance 'can next develop to bring connection, exchange, learning and joy to our gatherings, whilst also creating resilience, diversity and sovereignty in the food system.'

As with SWGN, EAGA is considering what sort of organisational structure best suits its aims and people. Ably steered by network coordinator, Barleybird CIC's Gaina Dunsford, the conversation focussed on four options on a spectrum from ad hoc interactions, to a formal paying-membership scheme. 

The afternoon featured Gilchesters’ ops guy, Max Ruddle, leading a tour of the mill; and short talks from Andy Forbes (Brockwell Bake Association, South East Grain Alliance) and rye-searcher Dr. Laura Valli.

Gaina noted: 'This work raises interesting questions for EAGA and other groups with socioeconomic aims. How do we create organisational structures which reflect and uphold the ethics and values we share? How do we ensure they are democratic, accessible, effective and flexible? It's going to be an interesting journey of learning and discovery.'

We then grazed on a crowd-sourced buffet of food brought by attendees and Pastificio Carleschi certified organic, bronze die, slow-dried pasta that Giovanni makes on the farm from stoneground, UK-grown grains.

Facebook album of photos from the day

I look forward to continuing conversations about how the Real Bread Campaign can work with, and in support of, people involved in the UK’s non-commodity grain revival.

See also

• First RISE
• The mill that belongs to everyone
• New magazine: Baking A Better Tomorrow
• Jazz improv in the South West Grain Network
• Let's make Britain great again!
• Wholemeal bread
• Grassroots grain Britain
• Rebel alliance
• Cultivating a new local grain economy
• A gathering of grainiacs 
• Why queue for YQ?
• Landrace for life
• An adaptive approach to wheat breeding, growing, processing and baking
• Capital grains
• A new Welsh grain economy
• Local grain guide
• Weaving new bread webs