Souper time for all at Spooky Saturday
HUNDREDS of islanders enjoyed spicy soups and tangy tureens at the Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden Souper Spooky Saturday.
The annual pre-Halloween event was held in the garden in Saumarez Park, and more than 300 people passed through the gates within the first hour.
The homemade soups were the star attraction. There were 11 different flavours in offer – a total of about 25 litres of soup.
Mary Knight was in charge of co-ordinating the soups, which were made by nine different people. She made vegetable and asparagus soups, using vegetables from the garden, which had been frozen when they ripened.
‘The Tantalising Tomato Tureen has been selling very well and the carrot and coriander is also selling out,’ she said.
One difference with the carrots is that the heritage white carrots had been used in the soup. Mrs Knight said while it changed the colour of the soup, it did not change the flavour.
A new attraction this year was Alf Symphorien and his rabbits. He has 16 adults at home, and he chose the six more relaxed animals for the event. While the glasshouses were echoing with noise, the space with the rabbits was quite peaceful, with children sitting quietly with rabbits on their laps.
‘The rabbits just love the attention,’ he said.
‘It has been going really well and there have been plenty of children.
The craft tent was also very busy, with volunteer Jo Harris in charge of organising the decorating of pumpkin plates and paper spiders.
Among the crafters were four-year-old Ava Senn and her sister Edie, 2, who were making pumpkin plates. Their mother, Claire, said this was their first time at the event and they had been having a good time.
‘It is really good to have events like this, that offers fun things to do out and about,’ she said.
There was also live music, children’s games and pumpkin carving.
The garden is run as a charity by volunteers, with the aim of restoring the garden and growing heritage varieties of fruit and vegetables.
PR organiser Cathy Morgan said they were really pleased with how the event had been going.
‘It started at about 11am quite quietly, then voom,’ she said.
‘This is a really important fundraiser for us. Apart from things for the garden, we are also currently doing the gatehouse, which is now up to roof level. That’s what we really need to raise money for.’
