cumbria's real bread campaigner...

Cumbria's Andrew Whitley has been described as an "organic pioneer" and a "baking visionary". A former BBC Russian service producer, he started the Village Bakery in Melmerby in 1976 and without realising it would become a leader in the slow fight-back of artisans against mass produced bread making. For more than two decades he was the only serious British baker using renewable energy by baking in wood-fired brick ovens. He recently completed a great book called "Bread Matters" and now has embarked on a new national project called the Real Bread Campaign, aimed at spreading the word about how to make real, tasty, healthy bread for yourself. You can get a slice of the action as Andrew runs some very popular bread making courses at his home in Melmerby. If you fancy getting your hands on some real bread, check out his website www.breadmatters.com. The courses are hugely enjoyable, inspirational and quite unforgettable.

Content and photography supplied by www.artisan-food.com