County town celebrates the best of Suffolk’s sights, sounds and tastes for Suffolk Day

Jamie Willows from the Rose House Butchery with his Suffolk Day sausages. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

The annual Suffolk Agricultural Association Food and Farming Student Day held at Hollow Trees Farm, Semer. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

Events took place across Ipswich to mark the day, with the county’s delicious food and drink taking a starring role.

Suffolk Day celebrations at the Suffolk Food Hall. L-R Gillian Main, Anthony Shepherd, Paul Main. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

Suffolk Day celebrations at the Suffolk Food Hall. L-R Gillian Main, Anthony Shepherd, Paul Main. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

Suffolk Food Hall director Russ Haddow said it was a day to realise how lucky you were to live in Suffolk.

Suffolk Day celebrations at the Suffolk Food Hall. L-R Gillian Main, Anthony Shepherd, Paul Main. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

Suffolk Day celebrations at the Suffolk Food Hall. L-R Gillian Main, Anthony Shepherd, Paul Main. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

“From our point of view this is a day to look out of your window, step out of your car and see what Suffolk has to offer,” he said.

Suffolk Day celebrations at the Suffolk Food Hall. L-R Gillian Main, Anthony Shepherd, Paul Main. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

Suffolk Day celebrations at Ipswich Transport Museum. Pictured next to a Suffolk bus is volunteer Bob Mellor. Picture: GREGG BROWN

“It is a celebration of the icons of Suffolk.

Suffolk Day celebrations at Ipswich Transport Museum. Pictured next to a Suffolk bus is volunteer Bob Mellor. Picture: GREGG BROWN

Suffolk Day celebrations at the Suffolk Food Hall. L-R Gillian Main, Anthony Shepherd, Paul Main. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

“We have had the Suffolk Trinity here today - the Suffolk Punch horse, Red Poll cattle and the Black Faced Sheep.

Suffolk Day celebrations at the Suffolk Food Hall. L-R Gillian Main, Anthony Shepherd, Paul Main. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

Suffolk Day celebrations at the Suffolk Food Hall. L-R Gillian Main, Anthony Shepherd, Paul Main. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

“Suffolk Horse Society brought along a party of Punches giving people the chance to see and pat a bit of Suffolk heritage.

Suffolk Day celebrations at Ipswich Transport Museum. Pictured next to a Suffolk bus is volunteer Bob Mellor. Picture: GREGG BROWN

Suffolk Day celebrations at the Suffolk Food Hall. L-R Gillian Main, Anthony Shepherd, Paul Main. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

“We also had Suffolk Landrovers Owners Club offering white knuckle rides near the Orwell Bridge.”

Suffolk Day celebrations at the Suffolk Food Hall. L-R Gillian Main, Anthony Shepherd, Paul Main. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

Suffolk Day celebrations at the Suffolk Food Hall. L-R Gillian Main, Anthony Shepherd, Paul Main. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

Jamie Willows, of the Rose House Butchery in Ipswich, created special Suffolk sausages to celebrate the day.

The annual Suffolk Agricultural Association Food and Farming Student Day held at Hollow Trees Farm, Semer. Sir John Leman High School pupils learn how to make sausages. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

Pupils from St Helena School, Colchester, visit the annual Suffolk Agricultural Association Food and Farming Student Day held at Hollow Trees Farm, Semer. Michael Mumford shows a fleece to students. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

He said: “These sausages are free range pork from Lakenheath with our own smoked bacon and Aspall’s cider.

The annual Suffolk Agricultural Association Food and Farming Student Day held at Hollow Trees Farm, Semer. George Kirk, Harry Hitch and Rhys Kirk from Archbishop Sancroft High School, Harleston, with Richard Clarke from Easton and Otley College demonstrating a Dynamometer. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

The annual Suffolk Agricultural Association Food and Farming Student Day held at Hollow Trees Farm, Semer. Chris Chilvers from Manns of Saxham showing a Claas combine to Bungay High School pupils. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

“Everything in them comes from Suffolk and is hand made by ourselves.

The annual Suffolk Agricultural Association Food and Farming Student Day held at Hollow Trees Farm, Semer. Vanessa Fowler from Muntons Malt with East Bergholt High School pupils. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

The annual Suffolk Agricultural Association Food and Farming Student Day held at Hollow Trees Farm, Semer. It is Jack Norfolk, 15, from Hartismere High School that makes friends with the cattle. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

“When we heard that Suffolk Day was being celebrated I thought ‘what a great idea’,

The annual Suffolk Agricultural Association Food and Farming Student Day held at Hollow Trees Farm, Semer. Lawrence Frohn from Hillfarm Oils with Debenham High School pupils. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

The annual Suffolk Agricultural Association Food and Farming Student Day held at Hollow Trees Farm, Semer. Jamie Day, 12, from Saxmundham Free School with a Gressingham Ducks chick. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

“You hear about Lincolnshire and Cumberland sausages and we thought why not a Suffolk sausage.

The annual Suffolk Agricultural Association Food and Farming Student Day held at Hollow Trees Farm, Semer. Felixstowe Academy pupils harvest potatoes with Janette Osman from Fairfield Farm Crisps. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

“We were scratching our heads for what to go in then and thought the county is known for its pork and its cider - what a great combination.”

Jamie Willows from the Rose House Butchery with his Suffolk Day sausages. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

Ipswich Transport Museum opened its doors to the public to mark the special day.

The museum’s vice chairman Bob Mellor said: “This is the first Suffolk day and I think it is a marvellous idea.

“We’re all for supporting Suffolk.

“It has been a really busy day for us with lots going on at the museum.”

As the celebrations coincided with Hollow Trees Farm’s long-running Student Food and Farming Day, the farm decided to give the event a Suffolk Day theme.

Farm owner Sally Bendall said there were more than 400 turn up. “I think there is so much to celebrate in Suffolk.

“It is such a wonderful county.”