The annual Marmalade Awards and Festival will return to Dalemain in the Lake District next month. With a series of workshops, competitions and tasting sessions dedicated to the citrus fruit preserve, the two-day event is held in the historic grounds of one of the region’s most spectacular country houses.

This year, the festival is due to take place on Saturday February 25th and Sunday February 26th. Visitors can look forward to a range of activities with a marmalade theme, including sessions led by food historian Ivan Day and the Guardian’s baking guru Dan Lepard. As well as the popular homemade marmalade award, there will be a marmalade literary competition judged by Michael Bond, creator of Paddington Bear.

Meanwhile, the Dalemain String Trio are set to perform works by Beethoven, Dohnanyi and Prokofiev with a citrus twist. Tickets for the various festival events are priced at £12 and available by application prior to the event. The proceeds are used by Hospice at Home, a free nursing service for people with terminal illnesses in the Carlisle and north Lakeland area.

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