A RESTAURANT in Cirencester Park has partnered with a food waste hub in the area.

Roots + Seeds Kitchen Garden, based at The Old Kennels, has teamed up with Cirencester Pantry, established to help reduce the quantity of food waste which ends up in UK landfill sites.

Working with food waste and hunger charity Fareshare and local supermarkets and shops, pantry members pay a monthly subscription for quality food items each week.

Roots + Seeds has been donating surplus food and providing cooked meals to the hub.

This summer, it hosted a range of holiday activities for children of pantry members, from pizza-making at its sister restaurant Cattivo to building burgers in the Roots + Seeds restaurant.

In addition, the restaurant regularly holds cookery demonstrations at Watermoor Church Hall using seasonal produce.

This Christmas Day, pantry members have also been invited to enjoy a three-course lunch at Roots + Seeds, with all the produce, including wines and treats, donated by restaurant suppliers.

Roots + Seeds Kitchen Garden founder Sam Lawson-King will be hosting this event, alongside family, friends and staff.

Cirencester College is additionally running free courses to learn how to cultivate vegetables using Roots + Seeds’ kitchen garden.

The 10-week courses are overseen by a facilitator from community interest company Down to Earth Stroud who shares their expertise and experience with participants, who learn through practical demonstrations, hands-on tasks and feedback.

Roots + Seeds also held a pay-as-you-can Harvest supper to celebrate the end of the summer on Friday, October 4.