Cumbrians are lucky people. Quite apart from the gorgeous scenery, friendly people, fascinating heritage and weather that provides endless topics for conversation, they have (in our opinion) more quality local food than anywhere else in the country.

They also have two - count them: two - LEADER+ programmes. The Fells and Dales programme, focusing on adding value to local products, and the North Pennines LEADER+ programme which aims to improve quality of life.

So what do you get when you throw all those ingredients together? You get the Cumbria's Cooking project.

Taking shameless advantage of the expertise of local celebrity chef John Crouch, Cumbria's Cooking is about working with local groups to explore Cumbria's wealth of food heritage and help them plan community celebrations with a distinctive flavour. Up north in Nicholforest, near Longtown, that means holding a "Gadabout Kern Supper" - a traditional autumn celebration with different courses in different communities. The project is bringing local activists, producers, village halls and budding cooks together, and its raising funds for the Air Ambulance and First Responders, too.

Our other target communities are Brampton, Alston, Penrith, Brough/Kirkby Stephen, Windermere, Ulverston and Keswick. If you live or work there, and have a brilliant idea combining local food and local people, let us know!

Anna Scamans, Cumbria's Cooking Co-ordinator, The Old Stables, Redhills, Penrith, CA11 0DT. 01768 869529. cumbriascooking@ruralcumbria.org.uk

STOP PRESS

Cumbria's Cooking was chosen by Defra as the project within England that best took forward the inter-territorial project section of the whole LEADER+ programme. It features in the publication "take me to your LEADER+ …" produced by Defra in Autumn 2005. The publication contains case studies which illustrate all the different aspects of the LEADER+ approach.

Please click on the links below to view other projects of the month: