ASPARAMANIA REACHES NEW HEIGHTS IN THE VALE OF EVESHAM
Starting off the festivities on Sunday evening was the increasingly popular Bretforton Silver Band Asparagus Auction – where once again, the finest “Gras” was being sold in aid of the village band with prices hitting record levels of up to £50 a bundle! Auctioneer Colin Jelfs described the event as “outstanding” and was delighted to welcome “for one night only"..Celebrity Auctioneer - Adam Henson from the BBC Countryfile programme who were filming throughout the evening. Adam sold the rounds that he had cut earlier that day especially for the asparagus feature (which will be screened on on Sunday 13th June) and said “he was delighted to be at the event and was amazed at the enthusiasm of the bidders”! An estimated 8,000 visitors made their way to Bretforton on BH Monday to enjoy a fun packed asparagus day with cookery demonstrations, local arts and crafts, farmers market, vintage motor cycles and cars, fire eating, sheep shearing, Barn owls, cider making, pole lathe workers, Gus the Asparagus man; Henry Sandon MBE whose Asparagus Roadshow was packed throughout the afternoon; Jemima Packington, the worlds only Asparamancer and Dr Colin Harris with his folklore talks and presentations. Early indications show that more than half the visitors were attending the event for the first time, and 95% said they would be returning next year as they had had such a wonderful “English” experience with the “best ever” asparagus…. Nigel Smith – landlord of The Fleece said ”The weather has been kind to us and today has exceeded all our expectations – we have had a fantastic turnout, with people visiting and also some amazing exhibitors. I hope everyone, without question has had a brilliant day and is now asparagussed out!” Festival launch - 23rd April - St Georges DayPhotographs from the launch!
Make asparagus the symbol of England!The Scots have the thistle, the Welsh have their leeks and the Irish have shamrock. England has a red rose but, most people are either unaware of this fact, or think of it as a symbol of love. So, we want to make asparagus the new symbol of England starting on St George's Day itself. We also want asparagus to become synonymous with St George's Day as the official food - as much a part of the celebrations as Guinness is on St Patricks Day. If you agree, sign our petition and don't forget to join us in Evesham's Abbey Park from 8am on St George's Day to celebrate the start of the Asparagus Festival. Asparamancer's Tasty Tips - predictions for 2010
POLITICS Gordon Brown will be out of politics by the end of the year. Following a General Election there will be a hung Parliament and David Cameron will form a minority goernment with the help of the minor parties ROYAL FAMILY There will be a Royal engagement surprise and also a high-profile Royal health scare or death SPORT Manchester United will win the Carling Cup and England will go OUT in the first or second World Cup round. CELEBRITY Cheryl Cole will reveal she is pregnant but there will be speculation over who the father is George Clooney & Helen Mirren will win Oscars
WEATHER Commenting on her fortune telling skills, Jemima Packington said: “Vale of Evesham asparagus is not in season at the moment and I refuse to use anything else. I have made my predictions using asparagus sausages which might account for some small anomalies” The festival, which takes place each year on St George’s Day, is part of a two month-long celebration of the King of Vegetables. The event is vitally important to tourism in the region and brings together a host of businesses in and around the Vale of Evesham. An Ode to Asparagus’ - by Trevor Harrison aka Eddie Grundy from "The Archers"
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The Bank Holiday weekend saw thousands of asparamad people from all over the World visit The Fleece Inn at Bretforton to celebrate the majestic green spear that has made the area so famous!
Celebrating the fact it is one of the finalists in the Where Else But England Awards, Worcestershire’s Asparagus Festival has called on Jemima Packington, asparamancer extraordinaire to predict its chances of winning. Jemima has also looked at what is likely to be hitting the headlines in 2010 and what the year holds for the rest of us.
