A NEW exhibition at Colchester’s Natural History Museum will show how sharing food has helped people in need.

The museum has teamed up with Colchester Foodbank to create the exhibition called Visual Feast.

It will be on display throughout the summer and autumn, the key harvest periods of the year.

Displaying historical objects relating to harvest time and harvest festival, visitors can find out more about this important period of the year and the role Colchester Foodbank plays in supporting the community.

Items from Colchester Museums’ collections will be on display including an 1800’s ploughman’s smock.

Other items include a ‘Harvest Horn’, originally used to call in those working in the fields for meal times.

Alongside historical objects the contents of a typical Colchester foodbank parcel will also be on display.

Julie Young (Lab), councillor responsible for business and culture, said: “With more and more people now living below the poverty line Visual Feast will help spread the word about the vital work Colchester Foodbank plays in supporting Colcestrians in need, as well as educating the next generation about health, nutrition and where their everyday food products come from."

Michael Beckett, CEO of Colchester Foodbank, said the vision is to help people in crisis and staff rely heavily on donations.

He said: "Working with Colchester Museums will help raise our profile and help educate the younger generation about nutrition and the food our bodies need to survive and thrive.”

Visual Feast runs until November 17.