Sunday 25th June will see some of the finest farmhouse cheese-makers in the north come together at The Courtyard Dairy’s famous shop near Settle, to showcase the brilliance of farm cheese.

“We wanted to celebrate these small little independent producers, who still make cheese by hand.” said Kathy Swinscoe, co-owner of The Courtyard Dairy. “What better way is there to celebrate those who are maintaining these important traditions than by bringing them all together and showcasing what they do: making proper traditional cheese!”

Eleven farm cheesemakers, including Gillian Clough, maker of Hebden Goat – Supreme Champion at the Artisan Cheese Awards last month will be selling and talking about their wares. They will be joined by Kirkstall Brewery, Bouncing Cows’ Ice cream (with a blue cheese ice cream flavour!) and a hot grilled raclette and halloumi-fries stall.

Throughout the day there will be demonstrations and talks on cheesemaking, cookery, beer and cheese matching, as well as kid goats to pet!

“Once upon a time there were thousands of farm cheese-makers in the north. Now there are barely a handful. The event is to celebrate the small farms and individual people who make these cheeses and give people an opportunity to meet them,” Says Andy Swinscoe.

Attending the Celebration of Northern Cheese event includes Graham Kirkham (of Lancashire Cheese fame), Mario Olianas (Leeds Blue), Sam and Ben Spence (Yoredale Wensleydale), Martin Gott (St James Cheeses), Gillian Clough (Hebden Goat) the Noblet family (Fellstone) , Stonebeck, LowFields Farm, Doddington Cheese, Cote Hill Farm and Errington Cheese.