A THRIVING smallholders' society is doing its best to promote local produce.

The 300-plus members of the North Yorkshire Smallholders' Society are keen to supply a wide range of products to local pubs, hotels, restaurants and the general public.

Among the specialities they can offer is organic and rare breed meat as well as the more commercial varieties. The taste and flavour of the rare breed meat has proved particularly attractive to buyers who return for more again and again.

The society was founded three years ago by Roger Walker and his wife, Pat, of Little Acres, Pickhill, near Thirsk. They have lived there for 17 years and started their own smallholding eight years ago with Wensleydale and Shetland sheep.

They formed the society as a way of swapping advice and information. Membership has grown rapidly to more than 300 throughout Yorkshire and as far away as Scotland and Cheshire.

For just £5 a year the members get quarterly newsletters with contact lists. Help and advice is also given free of charge and, if the society officials don't know the answers, they are bound to know who does.

"It works very well and now we are trying to promote local produce," said Mrs Walker.

Society members have 25 breeds of sheep, ranging from Hebridean, Manx Loghtan and White-Faced Woodland to Suffolk, Texel and Charollais.

Eight cattle breeds include Dexter, Highland, English White, Galloway and Aberdeen Angus and the 12 pig breeds feature Gloucester Old Spot, Tamworth, Berkshire, Saddleback and Yorkshire White.

There are also seven breeds of goat, 49 types of poultry and waterfowl, 16 breeds of horses and ponies, plus bees, llamas, cockatiels, alpacas, rheas, West Highland White terriers and standard poodles.

The society has a contact list of all members and what they have, and is keen to play its part in supplying local produce.

In addition to meat, vegetables, honey, goat's and sheep's milk, cheese and ice cream is also available. There are even wool spinners among the members.

"The demand for local produce is growing, people want to know where it is coming from; that it has not travelled half way round the country," said Mrs Walker.

"We are keen to hear from any hotels, pubs and restaurants who would be interested in receiving supplies from our members. We can put them in touch with people close to them and we would also be happy to hear from any members of the public who want to buy direct.