British Asparagus Festival
Vale of Evesham British Asparagus Festival

Welcome to the 2012 British Asparagus Festival in the Vale of Evesham

Regional Finalist for the 2nd year running in 2011 and 3rd in the National Finals of the Where Else But England Awards - the British Asparagus Festival in the Vale of Evesham is definitely the place to be for all things green and quirky.   And the Festival was one of the finalists in the 2011 Best One off Event/Festival in the Worcestershire Welcome Awards. 

Asparamancer's Tasty Tips - predictions for 2012

Asparamancer

Jemima Packington,  the world famous Asparamancer has once again made her predictions for 2012 with the help of Worcestershire asparagus which she had frozen from last years’ crops

Jemimas’ predictions have been eagerly sought after by the media following the accuracy of the past two years.    Ms Packington says “ I put my successes down entirely to the quality and uniqueness of Worcestershire asparagus – I’ve tried Gras from other countries but nothing compares…..” 

1. EURO 2012 - Some elderly Lions may be recalled to the Pride, but the winner will not come from Group D. (So sorry to all loyal England soccer fans) Spain will not win a second EURO, look to Germany or Holland.

2. The economy will settle and things will look much brighter in the second half of the year.

3. The Olympic Games will enjoy excellent weather and the British Olympic team will enjoy great success.

4. Not one but two Royal pregnancy announcements.

5. A change of leadership for one of the UK's main political parties.

6. An animal will win an acting award.

7. Several famous personalities will 'come out' as gay or be 'outed' which will cause great surprise.

8. Devolution referendum will be granted to Scotland.

9. Laws will be introduced to prevent the likes of the press phone hacking scandal from happening again.

10. The euro will finally collapse but it won't be as catastrophic on the British economy as supposed.

11. The death of a high profile British figure will cause great sorrow.

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.

 

2011 British Asparagus Festival & Auctions brings May madness

Kicking off with the frenetic 2011 asparagus auctions starting at 6pm on Sunday 29th May, the British Asparagus Festival reaches its finale this Bank Holiday weekend in a burst of true British eccentricity.

Bank Holiday Monday offers a day of everything asparagus including food, drink and even bath products made from asparagus – all for sale or to try. Asparagus whittling, asparamancy, asparagus crafts and even Morris Dancing with an asparagus theme will be on offer to delight the ten-thousand strong crowds.

Dont miss this pinnacle event of the Festival taking place at The Fleece Inn, Bretforton.   For details of all events download the EDT-Asparagus Festival Day 2011 programme

2011 King of Asparagus Competition...

Police Inspector Michael Brown from Redditch was crowned the first ever Asparagus King at the launch of the Festival

 

British Asparagus Festival Programme 2011

The British Asparagus Festival is delighted to welcome Festival goers both old and new to this year's event and thank you for joining us in celebrating one of Britain's most luxurious vegetables.

Last year an estimated 8,000 people enjoyed the pinnacle event on Bank Holiday Monday - The Festival Day at The Fleece Inn, Bretforton(NT).

Programme includes details of; The Great English Asparagus Run, Asparabus Tours, Harvington Village 'Gras' Games, Bretforton Silver Band & Asparagus Auction, Asparagus Festival Day and Bretforton Church Asparagus Auction.

Download the PDF programmme now...
(File size is 8MB so this may take a few minutes to download)

 

 

Flippin' Good Fun at the Asparapancake Race

Asparamancer's Tasty Tips - predictions for 2011

AsparamancerCelebrating 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 2011  and what the year holds for the rest of us.

1. Two UK political party leaders will be ousted .

2. House prices will fall dramatically, even more than has been predicted by the financial sector up to as much as 20 percent .

3. A royal baby will be announced .

4. Financial problems will not be limited to the Euro area - America will feel a loss of confidence in its assets .

5. The film ' The King's Speech ' will win Oscars especially for Colin Firth .

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.

 

Asparamania reaches new heights in the Vale of Evesham

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!

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 Day

Photographs from the launch!

St George with Gus Asparagus Run 2010

Viscountess Cobham with Sir Michael Brinton

Trevor Harrison with Hedli Niklaus Henry Sandon and Gus

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

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.

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
Susan Boyle will announce her engagement

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
The UK will experience an extended heatwave which will see a melt down in many cities

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"

You make no sound, you make no fuss,
O great and noble asparagus.
Upon this date, to you we hail
The finest spears in this fine vale.
You are so grand, so pure and able
And you can grace any great table.
Your flavour is famous but it would be kinder
If I knew a way to make asparagus cider!
You have got what every vegetable doth desire,
To be planted, born and bred it fairest Worcestershire!

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