PLANET-FRIENDLY BAKES AND TREATS
Diane Amey, 43, The Wild Tea Bar, Hampshire
Diane gave up teaching to launch her mobile food business. “My tea bar started in a tepee in our parish village park, where I sold my bakes, teas, co ees and hot chocolates, and provided activities for families to help them get to grips with nature. I wanted to be able to cater for and include customers who were non-verbal communicators, as my son Finley, 13, has Apert syndrome, a complex medical condition. As a family, we know the importance of inclusion.
“My passion for ecology and preserving the planet for the future shaped so much of what I did. Older generations planted their own vegetables, shopped locally, cooked seasonal food, had their own allotments and a much better grasp of food cycles and the delicate balance between nature and commercial farming. I wanted to nurture that love for nature in the next generation. It’s why we hand out free nature activities for children.
“Everything we use is planet-friendly, including our boxes and sleeves. Even our parchment and stickers break down naturally within a few weeks. When our brownie boxes took o online during the pandemic, we pledged to plant a tree with every order.
“In a year, we’ve planted 840 trees, donated hundreds to local charities and upcycled an old horse box to serve our local bakes. We use local suppliers to keep our carbon footprint low and community support high.” wildteabar.com @thewildteabar
DIANE’S ADVICE
“Be adaptable and move in the direction your customers take you. The pandemic taught us how vital it is to be willing to pivot to keep your business going.”
I wanted to nurture that love for nature in the next generation