Charity: Victoria Sponge Bake Day

A friend of Muddy Matches tragically lost her 29-year-old daughter, Victoria earlier this year to a rare and aggressive form of cancer. In her memory, and to help fund cutting edge research and create initiatives designed to improve those currently suffering with cancer, Victoria’s family have set up a charity in her name called Victoria’s… Continue reading Charity: Victoria Sponge Bake Day

Spring Foraging in London

Foraging conjures up images of roaming through countryside picking blackberries and elderflower to make sugary treats, so I must admit I was curious when The Caravan Club invited me (MM’s Heather) to Abbey Wood Caravan Club Site in South East London to attend a foraging event. It all made sense though when I got there… Continue reading Spring Foraging in London

Vote for Muddy Matches in Yeo Valley Business Awards

Muddy Matches has been nominated for this month’s Yeo Valley British Business of the Month Awards and we need your votes! What is it? Each month six businesses are put forward to the voting stage to become Yeo Valley’s British Business of the month and the winner is decided by the number of votes that… Continue reading Vote for Muddy Matches in Yeo Valley Business Awards

Mellow Yellow Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil

For our last business visit, we decided to keep it local and popped in to see Duncan Farrington, who produces Mellow Yellow cold pressed rapeseed oil on the family farm near Hargrave, Northamptonshire. Mellow Yellow rapeseed oil and the new Farrington salad dressings Duncan became interested in oilseed rape back in the 90s when he… Continue reading Mellow Yellow Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil

Malton Relish

Following on with our entrepreneurial theme, Sophie Legard opened the doors to her new delicatessen and catering business on 12th December and we went to visit her a few days later to find out how she was getting on. Previously, she worked as a cook at a local prep school but had always dreamt of… Continue reading Malton Relish

Haggis Making

Well we couldn’t go to Scotland without learning a bit more about the legendary haggis, could we? Some say that the haggis is a four-legged Highland creature, which has two short and two long legs to help it run around the hills. Now we don’t want to disappoint any American tourists by discussing whether that… Continue reading Haggis Making

Welsh Farm Organics

Looking into rural businesses on this trip, one thing that has really stood out is the lengths to which some people go in order to create employment for themselves in a part of the world they love; be that the countryside in general, a particular region, or the very farm they grew up on. As… Continue reading Welsh Farm Organics

Cider making in Somerset

Deep in the heart of Somerset, Land’s End Farm, where Roger Wilkins makes his farmhouse cider, is a bit of a gem and, if you successfully manage to navigate the winding narrow roads that lead there (no mean feat in a motorhome) you will probably be in need of a drink! When we arrived, Roger… Continue reading Cider making in Somerset

Pub Grub Night at the Butchers Arms

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant – that’s exactly how a Pub Grub Night is supposed to be. Lots of people, good food, good banter, a few numbers swapped…great fun! This time we were at the Butchers Arms in Fringford, Oxfordshire…see you at the next one? The Butchers Arms Fringford Nr Bicester Oxfordshire OX27 8EB The Butchers Arms

Winemaking at Plumpton College

Having spent the morning at the Sedlescombe Vineyard, we thought we’d make the whole day about wine and go west a bit to Plumpton College to find out what courses are on offer for anyone wishing to learn about winemaking. Nestled alongside the South Downs near Lewes, Plumpton specialises in land-based courses and is the… Continue reading Winemaking at Plumpton College