DENBIGH Plum Feast was bathed in glorious sunshine as the crowds - including Texas singer Sharleen Spiteri - descended on the town to celebrate Wales' only native plum.

Ironically the festival went on despite concerns over this year's poor harvest, with wet, cold weather decimating the number of fresh Vale of Clwyd Denbigh Plums available.

The Vale of Clwyd Denbigh Plum can be traced back at least 300 years - although legend claims it goes all the way back to the 1300s. But this year's harvest was devastated by poor weather, producing around 90% fewer plums than previous years.

But thanks to the preparation and planning of the Denbigh Plum Group and individual growers, enough were preserved from the 2023 harvest to ensure the Denbigh Plum Feast could go ahead.

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Thousands of visitors flocked to the feast this year, with organisers saying attendance was up on previous years. With pop royalty spotted among the crowds too, it was a good feast for volunteers and the producers and craftspeople who make this annual event happen.

"This was a really good year," said Nia Williams, secretary of the Denbigh Plum Group.

"We faced challenges with the harvest but with the support of local producers and creatives we were able to showcase the amazing talent and flavours of Denbigh and the Vale of Clwyd.

"We are so grateful to those artisan craftspeople and local farmers and producers because without them there is no feast, plums or not. 

"We're also thankful to all the visitors who came along this year. The weather undoubtedly helped - as did the Rockapella choir who brought a great vibe to the day.

"Every year a lot of people put a lot of work into putting on a food festival that is 100% family friendly. When it attracts so many people and goes so well that's a wonderful feeling.

"Everyone involved in making the feast happen deserves thanks but a special thank you goes from us to James Parsons, Car Parks Officer at Denbighshire County Council. 

"He made sure that the multi-storey car park was open and went above and beyond to ensure that the influx of people did not have their day marred by parking issues. 

"We are already looking for volunteers to help with next year's Plum Feast. Anyone interested can message Peter Plum on Facebook or speak to Peter Jones at E Jones and Sons on Highgate in Denbigh."