Our Autumn Preserved course will concentrate on stocking the larder for the dormant winter months and preserving some goodies for the festive season. The mellow, ripened fruits and vegetables from the late summer garden will be jarred, pickled and spiced alongside the glowing hedgerow berries and fruits from the Axe Valley.

Our preserved days are taught by Pam Corbin, co-founder of the Thursday Cottage Jam Company and Liz Neville, of Parrett Preserves, who makes all of our Glutney.

Pam and Liz work together throughout the day with the aim to show you a variety of ways to preserve seasonal gluts of garden and hedgerow fruit and veg.  The day will venture into explaining the different ingredients and methods used to keep fresh food safe and thereby stretching the fruitful season of plenty to the winter months. Of course, by the very nature of each season, courses will inevitably vary but Liz and Pam will endeavour to show you how to make fruity jams, sparkling jellies, creamy curds, cordials, pickles, chutneys as well as demonstrating how easy it is to bottle fruits, use salt to preserve lemons and how oil will preserve a fresh herby pesto. During the day they will share all their preserving experiences with you and will allow ample of time to answer your questions so you can return home with the confidence to make some exceptional preserves.

Our autumnal ingredients should be apples, onions, blackberries, elderberries, vinegars and pears. We'll hopefully be making autumn jams and apple based jellies, fruit curds and cheeses, sloe gin, haw ketchup, autumn raspberries and preserved lemons.

So, whether your dream is to start your own cottage industry or simply to learn a variety of wonderful ways to preserve your summer gluts, come and join Pam, Liz and the River Cottage team for a fascinating and inspirational day.

This event is demonstration based. Practical participation is not required, although volunteers are encouraged to take part in the demonstrations, at some point during the day.

Tea, coffee and homemade biscuits will be served at the end of the meal.

Course content: We cannot guarantee to include each and every recipe listed abovem, but we wanted to give you a good idea of what you can expect on this intensive one day course during Autumn.

Location: This course is run from River Cottage H.Q on the Dorset/Devon borders. Full address details of H.Q. will be provided once you have booked.

Wine/drink: We are a licensed venue. We also have a Bring Your Own policy and we do not charge corkage. We have a wide selection of the finest organic wines. We will be serving Elderflower cordial and iced water from our own well.

Accommodation: If you need local accommodation, click here for a list of hotels and bed & breakfasts, recommended to us by our customers. We don’t have camping facilities but for information on local campsites and self catering accommodation, call the Lyme Regis Tourist Information Office on 01297 442 138 . They will be very happy to help.

Hugh availability: Hugh does not attend this course

Age: We would advise that this course is only really suitable for 12yrs of age and upwards. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. We put these guidelines for the safety, comfort and enjoyment of all our guests.

Time: 9.30am - 5.00pm