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Gareth Baker, owner of
Wye Valley Apiaries
local food heroes
You wouldn’t think it to look at them, but Helen Tongue
and Gareth Baker are hardened campaigners.
Two of many, set in this peaceful landscape, soon be back in favour. Her Hogroast business it developed into an entire way of life for
fighting battles on several fronts. Against cheap is part of a campaign to get people tasting him and his family. Now with over 350 hives,
imports, new diseases, consumer indifference... and enjoying the Welsh pig. Then, hopefully, Gareth is completely smitten with these tiny
the list goes on. Both are campaigning to demand will grow and more breeders will get creatures and it seems they are pretty happy
ensure a secure future for their livestock. involved in this revival. too. The bees produce enough honey to fill
Because, ultimately, they are passionate about By comparison, the dwindling numbers around 80,000 jars each year, which means
improving the quality of the food we eat. of bees is well-documented. And it may feel you’ll spot honey from Wye Valley Apiaries
And no-one can rob them of that dream. like an insurmountable problem which can be in many local outlets.
The aptly-named Helen Tongue is a pig tackled only on a global scale. But Wye Valley If we want a secure food supply and an
farmer just outside Chepstow and one of the bee-keeper Gareth Baker believes that simple interesting range of produce, we can’t afford
Directors of The Pedigree Welsh Pig Society. actions by each of us can help. And it looks to lose our bees, our traditional breeds, our
A few years ago she became involved with as if our habits have begun to change for local varieties, our artisan producers, our local
saving the ‘Welsh’, the only native breed of pig the better in recent years. Some people are outlets. We need enthusiasts like Helen and
to be found in Wales. It soon became clear that growing-their-own, avoiding pesticides, filling Gareth. They’re keeping the dream alive.
many consumers were unaware of its existence, compost bins, buying from farmers’ markets,
let alone its threatened demise. It’s still early cooking from scratch.
days; the Welsh pig is not yet seen very often in For Gareth, it all started as a hobby
butchers’ shops. But, if Helen has her way, this back in 1982, with two hives and a short
traditional-looking, curly-tailed, pink pig will course in bee-keeping. Almost imperceptibly,
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