Ginger for the perfect biscuits? I'll grow it!

A BAKER who revived England’s oldest biscuit now plans to make it fit for the 21st century, by growing ginger sustainably in Lincolnshire.

- By Tony Whitfield

Grantham Gingerbread made the town famous ever since William Eggleston invented the treat by accidentally mixing up his ingredients in 1740.

The town’s bakers made the unique treat for the next 250 years until, by the 2000s, it had disappeared. Without a recipe, local man Alastair Hawken began to experiment and eventually perfected it with Hawkens gingerbread now sold in top retailers including Selfridges and National Trust outlets.

But keen to make the product fit in a future of climate change and food insecurity, he wanted to actually grow the exotic ginger, as each year we import £150million worth.