From a meringue mine to a marzipan lady swimmer in a river – the Weardale Great Cake Bake competition is firing the imagination of the dale’s bakers.

Weardale in cake form is the idea of Weardale Community Partnership who want friends and neighbours throughout the dale to bake cakes to reflect the dale. Participants are being asked to create cakes to represent significant buildings, landmarks, people and other features.

Those interested are being asked to register now, and the cakes will be displayed on a tabletop map in St Thomas’ Hall, Stanhope, on Saturday August 11th from 11.30am. Residents and visitors will be invited to vote for their favourite confection.

There will also be a raffle with prizes of locally based produce and food items, plus a cook book swap stall and a ‘Friendship Cake’– a sourdough which people can split, take away and mix themselves - from The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, based in Stanhope. Durham Hens are sponsoring the event sponsorship and taken an information stall.

The partnership has already received a wide range of cake ideas, including Stanhope Stepping stones, made of scones, Killhope Wheel, Weardale Museum and Royal Teas, as well as some wacky ideas such as the mine entrance and swimmer.

Director of Weardale Community Partnership, Pam Forbes, said: ‘Weardale folk are definitely rising to the challenge of putting Weardale on the map.

‘We have had great interest from all parts of the dale and some wild cake ideas coming forward, which is just what we want. We’d like everyone to get baking.’

Pam said they still wanted as many as possible to make their favourite person, animal, vehicle or feature to fill in the map and bring it alive - at least one fisherman, farmer, police person, car, fire person, fire engine and caravan.

First prize for the entrant voted favourite on August 11th is afternoon tea for four at Horsley Hall near Stanhope. This is courtesy of the Love Food project, which supports the production, use and appreciation of locally grown or reared food throughout Teesdale, Weardale, the Allen Valleys and Derwentside, and which is supporting the event, along with the Weardale Action Partnership.

Director of Love Food, Hazel Coppack, said: ‘It’s a fantastic idea and we hope that entrants will use as much local produce in their cakes as they can to support our local producers.’

Deadline for entry into The Weardale Great Bake! is August 1st, and details can be obtained from the partnership offices at The Hub in Front Street 01388 529500, at www.weardaleonline.co.uk or from the Love Food website www.lovefood.me.
 

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