On Saturday 18^th November, fifty eager diners and six competitive cooks  turned out for ‘The Taming of the Stew’, an evening of wine, fine food and high tension. All were eager to know who would be chosen as the winning casserole maker using venison from a wild one-year-old red deer hind specially selected for the occasion. Miles Lawton, who works with landowners in the Redlake Valley to keep the burgeoning deer population under control, was tasked with the difficult job of deciding which of the six casseroles was the best. After polishing off generous helpings of casserole, baked potatoes and peas, and consuming eleven delicious puddings (Chapel Lawn is well known for its puddings), the guests hung onto every word of Miles’ illustrated talk on the many aspects of deer management, explaining how it protects crops and woodlands and keeps the deer herds healthy. Finally, the winner was announced. Miles’ job was all the more difficult because the six recipes were not only delicious, but startlingly varied.  In the end, Janet Tudor from Pentre near Chapel Lawn won with her Italian Agrodulce recipe.  

The five runners-up were Simon James from New Invention, Alison Gunning-Stevenson cand Karen Sharpe from Bucknell, Ryan Davies from Heyope, and James Middleton from Chapel Lawn. Janet’s prize was a bottle of St Emilion Grand Crut, while the five runners up were presented with boxes of Belgian Chocolates, giving the very local occasion a slightly European flavour. All competitors received certificates. RVCBS chairman, Mark Limbrick, thanked Miles and the helpers who had made the evening possible and explained that the money raised from the evening would help fund deer fencing around a recently felled area in the Society’s Brineddin Wood quillets. By protecting the area and encouraging growth of young trees, it is anticipated that the biodiversity of the wood will be boosted. Mark also  encouraged guests to come along to the monthly woodland work parties, the next one being on Sunday  26^th November – meet in Chapel Lawn Village Hall car park at 10.00 am.

The evening raised just over £300. The six casserole recipes can be found here.