Glorious sunshine, a stunning location and the promise of a huge variety of gastronomic treats brought over 14,000 people flocking to the 2009 Children’s Food Festival on June 27 and 28.

The 2009 Children’s Food Festival, held this year at the Northmoor Trust estate and farm in an area of outstanding beauty, was a resounding success with parents, who were delighted to see their young ones eager to try out new foods and recipes. Belling sponsored the Kids Kitchen which held a number of exciting cookery events.

One of the most popular attractions was The Chocolate Tent - where leading chocolatiers dazzled audiences with their artistry.

More than 20 top chefs and cookery writers – including Patrons Raymond Blanc and Sophie Grigson – gave talks and hands-on demos. TV’s Stefan Gates even got children eating fried grasshoppers.

Amongst the other original offerings were: The Vegetable Orchestra, the Pizza Midwife, the Eat a Rainbow Every Day drama and a chance for children to be filmed by the BBC as pretend celebrity chefs.

Pigs were present in several guises from the 12 metre inflatable pink pig with farmyard drama inside, to the real Gloucester Old Spots to the Piggy Bank, which burped in gratitude when visitors made their donations. UK’s youngest pig farmer, 14 year old Emma Cianchi was also on hand to talk about her passion for pigs.

Film actress Greta Scacchi, BBC Radio 4’s Food Programme’s Sheila Dillon and teenagers took part in a lively debate about whether celebrities should promote junk food.

Festival Director Eka Morgan said, “We have been overwhelmed with highly positive feedback from happy parents. Our hope was that whichever way you looked in the Festival fields there would be something compelling to do – and that really was how it turned out.”

Zita from Oxford was one of the many who have already expressed their enthusiasm to the Northmoor Trust:

“The food festival was more than fabulous. Amazing! We all had such fun and my boys took away loads of goodies for their vegetable patch. Thank you beyond words - chocolate heaven as well.”