The National Trust’s Washington Old Hall has had a bumper hazelnut harvest which pupils from Barmston Village Primary School have helped to squirrel away.
There may be a shortage of hazelnuts globally this year due to a cold spring in Turkey, where 70% of the world’s supply is produced, but the trees in what is believed to be the North East’s only dedicated nuttery at Washington have produced a cracking crop.
The children aged five-11 have collected basketfuls which they will use in recipes over the coming weeks. The fruits of their labours will also be on display the In A Nutshell nature conservation day on October 19 at Washington Old Hall when the activities on offer will include apple pressing, food foraging sessions, a woodwork shop, honey extraction from the hall’s hives and the school’s pop-up kitchen offering soup, hazelnut cookies and sweetcorn fritters made from ingredients grown on site.
The youngsters are regular visitors to Washington Old Hall where they are part of a Plot to Plate allotment-style endeavour teaching them cooking and gardening skills.
The Avenue, Washington, NE38 7LE tel 0191 416 6879, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/northeast
