From Gardens to Gatherings: A Celebration of Community Food in Gateshead

From Gardens to Gatherings, a vibrant celebration of our borough’s growing community food movement, took place in Saltwell Park on 21stSeptember. This flagship event showcased the power of food to connect people across cultures and backgrounds, improve health and wellbeing, enhance our environment, and support sustainable local economies.

THANK YOU to all who joined us! We were blessed with sunshine and blue skies, after such a rainy Saturday! It was wonderful to see so many people there and so much engagement with all the activities. A huge thank you to the over 30 different organisations and small businesses involved with the event. It made us proud of Gateshead, proud of our Food Partnership and what we can do when we come together!

The celebration event included:

• The chance to eat good food together, trying food from different cultures and supporting local organisations. Hot food offer serving locally produced and organic food cooked by Gateshead College students; tasty homemade soup served by the team at The Bank Chopwell; and Saji's Restaurant Felling serving Punjabi food. Banquet-style communal tables, dressed with wildflowers, encouraging people to eat together and start conversations with strangers.
• A colourful stretch tent, draped in colourful bunting made by Gateshead volunteer Art Diamonds group, filled with stalls showcasing voluntary sector organisations and projects based around food growing, creativity, and community food activities, selling fruit and vegetables grown in Gateshead by community groups, products made by local social enterprises.
• A schedule of practical workshops: learn about foraging, fermenting and dehydrating foods, tips on how to reduce food waste, make tea with locally grown herbs, and share stories of Gateshead’s food heritage and future.
• A Food Theatre Tipi: hosted by Chef Anthony O’Shaughnessy with a variety of local chefs including from voluntary sector organisations
• A tipi tent for children and young people, creative play and art activities for all ages, face painting and hair braiding, and making healthy snacks activities for young children throughout the day
• A small stage for entertainment and musical performances by Gateshead college students

It was a colourful, inclusive event, free to attend, and all the workshops and activities were be free. The variety of food options were sold at low cost. The event saw over 3,500 people attend over the course of the day.

More than 70 Gateshead College students were involved from 9 different curriculum areas, for example film & photography, marketing & business, performing arts, and children & early years. They gained over 900 hours in work experience hours through the event - a wonderful opportunity for students to gain skills.

This event was funded by UK Government UK Shared Prosperity Fund; as well as funding from North East Combined Authority, and Royal Horticultural Society. 

Feedback from visitors:

"I go to a lot of events like this and people are sick of seeing the same food trucks and businesses attending them. Having something local that includes only Gateshead businesses is amazing! There should be way more of these. And the diversity of attendees and stall holders was amazing, well done."

"A lovely feel to the event!"

"Everyone was incredibly positive. I had lots of engaging conversation around the importance of children learning to cook, budgeting and food waste and would love to be involved in the future!"

"The whole event was just great, I couldn't fault it. More more please."

"Well done to the organisers who put on some amazing workshops and help crafted a beautiful community feel good event. Well done!"

"An annual event to bring communities together in Saltwell Park would be welcome. This event was wonderful!"

"Yes I would like to see more events, the park should be used more for the community."

"Loved having local restaurants there, would love to see more events with stalls from small local businesses in Gateshead, and keep up the amazing diversity you had at this event!"