On Sunday August 30th, Mary Berry will guest edit a special edition of Countryfile, in which she shares her love for the British countryside, the role farming has played in her life and how it has influenced her cooking. Mary Berry has cemented her reputation as one of the UK's most well-loved and famous cooks. But though she may be dubbed 'Mary: Queen of Cakes', she's as at home in the countryside as she is in the kitchen. In this extra-special episode of Countryfile, Mary reveals all about the influence that farming has had on her, from her earliest memories, to her time as a Young Farmer, and throughout her career. A side that is less well-known by her fans. Mary grew up at a time when buying local and home-grown food were the norm. She'll explore the farming causes still dear to her heart today; the importance of re-connecting to local produce and understanding the food chain from farm to fork, as well as how vital it is for children to know where their food comes from and how to cook it. At a time when sustainability is increasing in importance she'll visit the producers who are championing small-scale farming to feed their local communities and restore a closer connection to the food we eat. She'll try her hand at a traditional method of cheesemaking, corral an amorous Longhorn Bull and his herd and sample the delights of a thriving market garden. Mary also goes foraging for edible fungi in the grounds of her childhood home. Throughout the programme Mary will collect produce which will be brought together at the end to go with an accompaniment to the locally-reared beef that Matt is going to do his best to wow her with on the BBQ. Audiences can look forward to summer food grown and produced with passion, lovingly prepared by Mary that can be made by everyone at home.
