Cooking up tasty treats in Mossley

There are lots of tasty treats on offer in a butcher's shop in Mossley, thanks to the hard work of the Friends of Egmont Street Garden.

Lesley Arnold, who helps to maintain the community space, has been collecting fruit from the garden and around Mossley, to make into jams and chutneys. The jars are on sale at Pattison’s Butchers on Manchester Road.

The proceeds from the sale of the chutneys and jams will go towards maintaining the garden.

Lesley said: “I grew up on a farm, where the making of jam and chutney was something you did as the seasons progressed. 

“When we planted the Friends of Egmont Street Fruit Garden, in 2018, it was a natural progression to make them from the fruit we grew there. I managed to make jam that very first year and have done so each year since.

“Last year I started to make jam from other seasonal produce, as our garden is quite small it doesn’t yield a huge amount. 

“These we sold at the local community events. Aside from applying for specific grants, it is our only income for the day-to-day running costs of the gardens. With the rise of Covid, all such events were cancelled and our income was going to end."

Lesley Arnold and her husband Stephen, as well as Lucie Sharp and Craig Pattison.

She added: “Craig Pattison has been a member of our group for the last two years and a huge supporter of local producers. I asked if it would be possible to sell our products in his shop. He agreed and I have kept them supplied with a selection of preserves.

“Craig has always done Christmas meat and veg hampers. This year with the development of their deli cheese counter by Lucie Sharp, he decided to expand his range and wanted to include cheese hampers with locally made chutneys, which I have made to enhance their selection. 

“The Christmas collection of jams and chutneys are available from the shop this weekend. I have sourced many from locally grown fruit, including our own fruit garden. 

“Craig and Lucie have been a huge help sourcing the rest.”

Main image:

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Lesley Arnold and her husband Stephen.