Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales and recently crowned ‘National Restaurant of the Year 2022’ Ynyshir Restaurant with Rooms in Machynlleth, are launching an exclusive competition to celebrate Love Lamb Week, 1-7 September.
Now is in its eighth year, Love Lamb Week celebrates all things lamb and this year focuses on the sustainability of UK sheep production.
Wales has a particularly good story to tell, as sheep are overwhelmingly reared on natural resources, such as grass and rainwater, and 80% of its farmland is unsuitable for growing crops, thereby making raising livestock the most efficient way to turn marginal land into high-quality food. Furthermore, grassland in the Welsh hills captures carbon from the atmosphere, with farmers managing it through a combination of age-old traditional practices coupled with more modern methods.
With high standards of animal husbandry and pastureland management, family-run farms in Wales have helped preserve the unique landscape for generations. It is one of the reasons Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef have achieved the coveted and prestigious Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status from the European Commission and the UK Government.
To mark this year’s celebration of all things lamb, an exclusive competition is being launched offering two people dinner and one night’s stay at Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms. The most highly decorated restaurant in Wales, it boasts two Michelin stars, five AA rosettes, has been named in the top 5 of the Good Food Guide and, more recently, it was crowned National Restaurant of the Year 2022.
Described by the Michelin guide as being “truly passionate about meat, handling it with knowledge and care”, chef patron Gareth Ward takes pride in the fact that for him there are “no rules, no guidelines” and all that he asks of his diners is to come along with “an open mind” and “ready for an immersive culinary experience”.
Gareth knows what it takes to make an exceptional dish, and the local produce he serves at the restaurant makes it all the more worthwhile. He said,
“It’s the passion of the farmers, the land their livestock are reared on and the grass that they eat – these combine to create a unique product.
“I get a particular enjoyment from cooking Welsh Lamb because I see the passion and dedication of the farmers – week in, week out. Producing it is central to their life and all this comes through in the flavour.
“Supporting local produce and producers is really important for us here and is a big part of what we do. If you’ve got produce as good as Welsh Lamb on our own doorstep, then why would you look anywhere else?”
Speaking about this year’s Love Lamb Week campaign, Rhys Llywelyn, Market Development Manager at Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales said,
“We know from our previous work with Gareth and Ynyshir that they are passionate advocates of Welsh Lamb, and we’re delighted to have teamed up with them to offer this fantastic prize.
“Love Lamb Week is a great way of reminding people about the hard work and dedication of our farmers. As global events are currently showing, it is more important than ever to be producing as much of our own food as possible, and the environmental conditions we have in Wales means we are one of the most sustainable places in the world to produce lamb of the highest quality.”
Full details on how to enter the competition can be found at eatwelshlamb.com/gareth-ward
