SWINDON LITERARY FESTIVAL REVIEW: WRITER, broadcasting smallholder and cook Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has pledged to help revive the fortunes of Swindon Farmers' Market.

He was taking questions from the audience after his talk, when a woman told him how the market was dwindling after being moved to a smaller location. She also said funding for the venture was insufficient.

Hugh, a staunch supporter of farmers' markets and their fresh, seasonal produce, promised he would look into the problem.

"I will find out what is happening in Swindon. It is important that farmers can sell direct to Swindon people. This area of Wiltshire has wonderful produce," he said.

He kicked off his session by using the audience to punch home his message about eating seasonal food from small producers.

He asked how many people grow or rear some of their own food and about half responded.

Around half of the audience showed they had eaten purple sprouting broccoli at the height of its season last month, a third said they had eaten English asparagus, half again said they had bought food direct from a producer and half admitted to using supermarkets for the bulk of their food purchases.

The point was well made before he read extracts from his latest book, The River Cottage Year, which illustrated his passionate belief that bringing fresh ingredients each month into the kitchen is good for the soul.

He described an idyllic lifestyle in June, getting up with the animals at 4am, writing and then fishing in the afternoon as a reward.

Hugh inspires us all to change our lifestyle and eat the food nature intends, but how many of us will?

By Catherine Turnbull