A Somerset estate has marked midsummer by reviving the old British tradition of pickling green walnuts.

Sharpham Park, Roger Saul's certified organic estate on the Somerset Levels, hosted a private gathering called Pickle Me Walnuts on Wednesday, 24 June. The event was held on St John the Baptist's Day, traditionally seen as the time to pick green walnuts before their shells harden.

Roger Saul, who founded Mulberry, planted 300 walnut trees at Sharpham Park in 2004. The estate now grows seven varieties and describes him as Britain's leading organic walnut grower.

The event included a blessing of the trees by the Bishop of Bath and Wells. It also brought together a number of independent British food producers, with tastings and products linked to the walnut harvest.

Sharpham Park said the event was intended to revive a tradition that was once common across Britain. At midsummer, when green walnuts are still soft enough to cut, farms with walnut trees would often have their own pickling recipes.

The estate said almost every walnut now found on British shelves is imported, while fruit, nut and vegetable imports account for a large proportion of the country's supply. It said the green walnut harvest was intended to celebrate British produce while opening a wider conversation about food security.

The farm's walnuts are certified organic and grown without glyphosate or synthetic pesticides. They are also grown without irrigation, meaning each harvest is affected by the weather and wider climate conditions.

Roger Saul is also due to speak at London Climate Action Week on UK food security, a subject linked to the wider message behind the walnut harvest. The Sharpham Park event followed his involvement in wider food conversations, including the FŌDA festival of food ideas in Bristol.

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