A FOOD writer and farm owner will be speaking to Winchester residents next week about how to grow unusual plants to use in the kitchen.

Mark Diacono, owner of Otter Farm, will be speaking to keen cooks and vegetable growers at Itchen Abbas and Avington Village Hall on Tuesday, April 10.

Mark is known for his unusual food-growing at the east Devon farm, where he grows kiwis, sweet cicely, Japanese wineberries, Vietnamese coriander and Szechuan pepper, alongside more commonly used fruits and vegetables.

The talk, entitled 'The new kitchen garden', will start at 2.30pm. Entry costs £5 and there will be tea and biscuits/cakes afterwards.