Malpas's Big Cheeses

EMMA MAYOH meets some of the people making a big impression in this beautiful corner of Cheshire

- Emma Mayoh

THERE must be something good about the countryside around Malpas. This rural area is bursting with cheese makers from small independent producers including the award winning HS Bourne, to large scale creameries like Reece’s Creamery on the pastures south of the village.

But there is one local farmer’s wife bringing a taste of Italy to this lush corner of the county. Anne Connolly spent almost two decades living and working in Italy for hotel groups Trust house Forte in stunning locations like Sardinia and Livigno.

But it was after she met her husband Peter, whose family have farmed for generations, that she moved to Larkton Hall Farm, just outside of Malpas village. It was he who encouraged his wife Anne to give cheese making a go.

‘I was looking for a job and he asked why didn’t I have a go at making cheese,’ said Anne, who then enlisted on a cheese making course at Reaseheath College. ‘We had lots of milk on the farm and he thought it made sense.

‘I knew a man from Livigno called Benny who lived in the Italian mountains and has cows, sheep and some pigs. He made cheese for fun at the end of the day. He said he would help me. He drove over with some other friends of mine and brought his huge copper kettle with him.

‘He had only intended to come for a week but ended up staying much longer. He is fantastic; he’s such a brilliant person. He comes over every year now.’