New Mill & Spelt Cookery School � A UK First. On Tuesday 12 June, HRH The Countess of Wessex is to officially open the UK and Europe�s first and only dedicated spelt mill at Sharpham Park in Somerset. Her visit will also mark the launch in October of the Sharpham Park Spelt Cookery School � another UK first. Sharpham Park is the premium British food label launched by Roger Saul (founder of fashion label, Mulberry) in 2005.

100% �Green�: The new mill ensures Sharpham Park Spelt, awarded UK certificate 5 by the Soil Association, is one of the most environmentally responsible products on the market. 100% organic and farmed using sustainable methods, its carbon footprint is almost negligible, with every grain in Sharpham Park products traceable directly to a single UK source, keeping all production within throwing distance of its growing fields. Not only is it grown in sympathie with the environment, it is also bursting with taste and healthy nutrients that are not lost through the milling process. The mill, which incorporates the best machinery sourced throughout Europe, uses the traditional stone grinding milling process, which ensures the goodness of the whole spelt grain is not lost during its transformation into the finest high-quality refined and wholegrain flours.

Spelt Cookery School: October will see the opening of the UK�s first dedicated spelt cookery school. Visitors will stay at Roger Saul�s nearby Charlton House Hotel, then visit the farm to attend spelt cookery sessions hosted by renowned chefs from around the UK. They will watch and learn how to create a feast using spelt flour and Pearled Spelt, a delicious rice substitute.

With a distinctive nutty flavour, spelt is perfect both for those looking for a taste sensation as well as a solution for those suffering from a wheat or gluten intolerance: its unique gluten structure makes it easier to digest than wheat, although it retains the versatility of its distant cousin. Sharpham Park�s collection of delicious quality products, made using spelt includes 5 deliciously different mueslis, pure spelt puffs and honey coated puffs, pearled spelt (a refreshing alternative to rice, perhaps better known in Italy as Farro), sweet and savoury biscuits, fresh pizzas and pasta, spelt crust pies and handmade sausages, using the rare breeds from the farm.

Sharpham Park products are stocked by leading delis and food halls, including Waitrose, Harvey Nichols Foodmarkets, the new Whole Foods store in Kensington and As Nature Intended. For further details, log onto www.sharphampark.com.

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For more information please contact: Sasha Henderson, Caroline Urban or Annabel McAvoy at APR Communications Tel: 020 7351 2227 or email: shenderson@aprcommunications.com

Notes to Editors: * Most organic Spelt is shipped to the UK from Eastern Europe or from Canada, where legislation surrounding organic produce is less stringent. Sharpham Park Spelt Facts � Sharpham Park Spelt has a unique nutty flavour. � The key difference between spelt and wheat is the molecular structure of the protein in the gluten, which is more brittle and more soluble and thereby easier to digest. � It is suitable for a wheat free diet, and for those with a wheat or gluten intolerance. Consult your doctor if you have coeliac disease. � Spelt has more protein than most wheat grains � essential for body maintenance and muscle growth. � It has a low Glycaemic Index of just 30, releasing sugars slowly into the blood stream. Great for athletes, children and those of us trying to keep the hunger pangs at bay between meals. � Has been proven to relieve symptoms of IBS and is prescribed to help sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome. � Has high levels of complex B vitamins and iron. � Is an excellent source of Riboflavin - two ounces of Spelt flour will provide over 100% RDA of Riboflavin - it is one of the most important foods for many migraine sufferers. � Spelt is a good source of Niacin, which can help to reduce total cholesterol and lipoprotein levels. � The high level of fibre in spelt is believed to help reduce cholesterol levels and help to combat Diabetes. Spelt is a good source of Zinc, which is also important in controlling blood sugar levels. � Spelt contains special carbohydrates called �mucopolysachavides�; their carbohydrates are credited with strengthening body tissues and stimulating the body�s immune system, helping to increase its resistance to infection. � Spelt was brought from the Middle East more than 9,000 years ago. Mystical writings of the 12th century healer, St Hildegard of Bingen who praised spelt as the grain best tolerated by the body � Spelt is a cross pollination between emmer wheat (triticum dicoccoides) and goat grass (aegillps squawosa). � Spelt is well-suited to organic systems, it�s resistant to pests and diseases and tends to have a prostrate growth habit when young which helps suppress weeds.