Help Yourself to a Slice Of … For Peat’s Sake

Kerry’s distinctive new delicacy communicates a strong environmental message in bite size chunks.

rtists at In-Situ have combined The pie tastes like a slightly spicy and aromatic Asian flavours with one of East take on a traditional meat and pie ALancashire’s favourite delicacies in but the definitive recipe can be fine-tuned a tasty bid to connect local folk with the to suit vegetarian or even vegan diets. peat uplands of Pendle. “It’s a proper wholesome pie The Pendle Peat Pie is a novel and we are hoping that a number of artisan interpretation of that Friday night post- bakers, cafes, pubs and restaurants will start pub staple: chips and curry sauce – and using the recipe so that it appears on menus its inventors hope it will across the area,” said Kerry. raise awareness of the Sharing food “We are happy for different importance of Pendle’s producers to add their own vast peatlands in locking brings“ us together twist to their pies, as long in carbon and reducing and strengthens as the basic ingredients flooding. the bonds between comprise, dhal, chips In-Situ artist Kerry and spinach or kale – to Morrison teamed up with us and food also represent the three vital independent chef Andrew connects us to our elements of a successful Dean to perfect the recipe, environment peat restoration project. with ingredients which “I’ve worked on food projects reflect East Lancashire’s ” before, but this is a much broader project cultural diversity. Inside the traditional that involves artisan food businesses to pie crust case, the filling is a combination reach a wider audience to communicate the of velvety lentil dhal and diced potato importance of the peat restoration story in topped with a layer of spinach. bite-size chunks – quite literally!” These ingredients reflect the peat (dhal) The Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership held in place by coire logs (chips) and the has restored several acres of peat on and fresh plant growth on the surface of the around Pendle and the pie will receive peat (spinach). It can be served open, like a its official launch in spring, when peat tart or with a lid, like a traditional pie. restoration volunteers will march up to

86 www.forestofbowland.com the summit to plant swathes of upland cotton grass to form a natural protective blanket over the regenerating peat. The benefits of healthy peatlands are supported by robust climate science. The peat locks in new carbon and prevents existing carbon leaching into the rivers and the atmosphere by erosion. It also soaks up gallons of water – rather like a sponge – and slows water run-off to reduce flood risk downstream. “Sharing food brings us together and Recipe: strengthens the bonds between us and food Pendle Peat Pie also connects us to our environment,” added Kerry. “We’re very lucky that the farmers l Shortcrust pastry and food producers around Pendle are still l Curried brown dahl very much connected to the environment l Roasted diced potato and their customers and we hope that the l Spinach or kale Pendle Peat Pie will reconnect people with Serve with mushy peas (optional) the environment on a deeper level.

87