A HEREFORDSHIRE botanicals company has celebrated 21 years in business by bringing food writers, growers, suppliers and plant experts from around the world to the county.

Blue Sky Botanics, which has produced natural botanical extracts from its base at Upton Bishop near Ross-on-Wye since 2005, marked the milestone with a Botanical Summit at Hellens Manor in Much Marcle.

The event brought together customers, suppliers and experts from across the UK and overseas to celebrate the company’s journey and explore the plants, people and communities behind ingredients used in food, drink and cosmetics.

Award-winning food writers Dan Saladino and Niki Segnit were among the speakers at the summit, which was organised in partnership with Organic Herb Trading and the FairWild Foundation.

Mr Saladino, presenter of BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme and author of Eating to Extinction, spoke about declining diversity within the global food system and efforts to protect plants, foods and traditions which are at risk of disappearing.

Niki Segnit, bestselling author of The Flavour Thesaurus, explored the world of flavour, while research herbalist and forager Monica Wilde shared her knowledge of wild edible plants and the variety of species growing around us.

The international supply chains behind ingredients processed in Herefordshire were also highlighted during the event.

Representatives from Tea Promoters India, PDS Organic Spices and FEDECOVERA shared stories about the people, landscapes and communities responsible for producing botanical ingredients around the world.

Guests later travelled to Blue Sky Botanics’ Upton Bishop headquarters to see how raw botanical ingredients are transformed into natural extracts before being supplied to manufacturers in Britain and overseas.

The visit gave attendees an insight into the work taking place at the Ross area site and demonstrated how ingredients sourced from different parts of the world are processed locally before reaching customers across a range of industries around the world.

Herefordshire produce and hospitality also featured prominently in the celebrations, with guests treated to a four-course Botanical Banquet prepared by Hereford restaurateurs C-Sons.

The anniversary celebrations concluded with a Disco Ceilidh led by Herefordshire DJ Max Galactic.

Caroline Brevitt, managing director of Blue Sky Botanics, said bringing people involved in the company’s work together in Herefordshire had made the anniversary particularly special.

She said: “We’ve spent 21 years building relationships with growers, suppliers and customers around the world, so it was incredibly special to bring so many of those people together here at our home in Herefordshire.

“Hearing the stories behind the plants and the people and places they come from really brought everything we do to life.

“It was a wonderful way to celebrate our milestone birthday and made us all very excited about what the next 21 years might bring.”

The summit also looked towards the future, examining how greater plant diversity could influence food and drink production and the importance of protecting ecosystems and communities involved in botanical supply chains.

Blue Sky Botanics was established in 2005 and supplies natural botanical extracts to businesses across the food, beverage and cosmetics industries.

To keep reading all your favourite stories online, subscribe to the Ross Gazette and use promo code LUKEDAVIS to get £10 off your annual subscription.