HRH The Prince of Wales officially opened Gloucester Services on the M5 today.
His Royal Highness met the butchers, bakers, fishmongers and sausage roll makers who work and supply the services with local food.
The services source local food from over 130 local suppliers within 30 miles of the services and 70 producers from across the South West.
The motorway services are home to their own bee hives, and HRH was presented with the first jar of M5 honey to celebrate the occasion.
His Royal Highness also finished the final flourish of the honey mural commissioned to commemorate the occasion.
Gloucester Services took the opportunity to announce a joint initiative with His Royal Highness’s Countryside Fund, launching The Prince’s Countryside Fund Sandwich, where 10p per sandwich will be donated to The Fund, to support the projects and people who care for the countryside.
His Royal Highness met individuals from several local charities, including The Nelson Trust, Play Gloucestershire, The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and Fare Shares, who thanks to a unique partnership between Gloucester Services and the Gloucestershire Gateway Trust will benefit from additional funding.
Two per cent of sales will be donated to charity and will be invested primarily into local communities surrounding the services.
Sarah Dunning, CEO of Westmorland Family who own and operate the services, said: “It’s been a tremendous honour to have HRH The Prince of Wales officially open Gloucester Services.
“We share a mutual love and respect for the countryside.
“Farming is at the very heart of Gloucestershire life and landscape and the Westmorland Family team are only too aware of how sustainable local retailing can be a powerful economic force in supporting the rural economy.”
Dedicated to local food, farming and the surrounding community, the services has two main aims - to make local food not just the preserve of elite shops and farmers markets, but accessible and affordable to everyone on the move, and to inject vital investment back into the surrounding community.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here