A week of food-themed events in the heart of the county comes to the boil with a free session of local food tasting.

The picturesque village of Wye, between Ashford and Canterbury, has an active farmers’ market and is a renowned food-producing community. Now in its fourth year, the Wye Food Festival is a week-long celebration of produce and farming, giving visitors the opportunity to not only enjoy fine food and drink but also learn more about where and how it is produced.

The festival gets under way with an extended Wye farmers’ market on Saturday, June 21, on the village green. There will be extra stalls, live music from Canterbury-based folk band Arlet, and a beer tent. Stallholders will include Beth’s Mogador specialising in homemade Hungarian and Austrian food, May Farm serving luxury ice cream from Woodchurch, Crepe in my Face from Rochester, which uses Kentish beer in its batter, and Wye Community Farm serving the Wye burger on a barbecue with all ingredients produced in the village.

The local restaurants and pubs will have plenty of special offers running throughout the week that ends on Sunday, June 29.

The Kings Head has a barbecue on Wednesday, June 25, and a free tasting night on Sunday, June 29, which closes the festival.

Scott Richardson, from the pub, said: “We are celebrating the outstanding produce from Wye and beyond at this year’s festival. The barbecue on Wednesday will showcase the amazing produce Wye has to offer, while the free tasting night will bring the Kings Head’s local and regional suppliers together for an evening of food, flavours, and fun.”

Other contributors to the festival include Perry Court Farm, Ripple Farm Organics, the Wooden Spoon Preserving Co and Wye Butchers and Deli.

A series of walks are also a part of the festival programme, the first of which celebrates the solstice on Saturday, June 21. It leaves from Wye Church at 5pm for a six-mile circular walk and ends in an optional two-course meal at the Kings Head.

Organiser Helen Hargreaves said: “We also have evening walks during the week, starting at Wye church at 7pm from Monday to Friday. Walks are led by qualified ramblers, walk leaders and guided by local experts.”

For more information on all Wye Food Festival events visit www.wyefood.org.uk and for information on the walks call 07920 022528.