A unique horticultural experience around the Vale of Evesham

www.visitwychavon.com

Vale Trailin the Vale of Evesham

What’s inside• Vale of Evesham Produce

• Seasonality• Places to visit

• Vale Trail events• The British Asparagus Festival

• The Pershore Plum Festival

BROADWAY TOWERCOTSWOLDS

Open Daily – Tower: 10.00 - 17.00 | Cafe: 9:00 - 17.00 www.broadwaytower.co.uk 01386 852 945 01386 852 390

Middle Hill, Broadway, Worcestershire, WR12 7LB

Discover the beauty of the Highest little castle in the Cotswolds

MORRIS & BROWNEATING | SHOPPING | LIVING

Broadway Tower blossom and vale trail.indd 1 28/01/2016 14:05

About the Vale Trail Watered by the River Avon and bordered by the Cotswolds, Bredon and the Malverns, lies the horticultural Vale of Evesham. For centuries the area has been considered the fruit and vegetable basket of England and has provided fertile soil that supports its’ developing communities.

Evesham and its surrounding area have gained a distinguished reputation for producing the highest quality produce. To help you enjoy the incredible quality of the Vale’s produce, the Vale Trail has been designed to give you an enriched horticultural experience and just a small taste of what the area has at its disposal.

History of Vale HorticultureThe Vale of Evesham is renowned for its high fertility. Labelled as the ‘Garden of England’ its’ horticulture can be traced back

as far as the early 19th century. In 1805 it was evident that asparagus, cucumber and onions were grown in considerable amounts within the Vale before being sent to Birmingham markets for trade. From 1825 gardening spread to the villages on the east side of Evesham and Badsey established itself as the new centre of development. Around the same period the railway came to Evesham and in 1852 the Worcester to Oxford line opened; marking the beginning of the ‘modern’ age of Evesham horticulture. By 1845 it was believed that the Vale’s garden ground amounted to over 500 acres providing the foundations for its growing horticulture. Before the 14th Century, the climate in Western Europe was much warmer than today. Many orchards would have been covered with varieties of plums, apples, almonds, grape vines, cherries, chestnuts, pears, walnuts, mulberry trees, gooseberries and strawberries some of which can still be seen!

www.visitwychavon.com

Initially the growers were market gardeners with small plots of land in Badsey, the Littletons and Offenham. There are still small growers in the Vale who work in this way today – literally market gardeners growing for the wholesale markets or for local customers; but the demands of the modern supermarket customer have led to a revolutionised, cutting edge horticultural sector. Tomatoes are now grown hydroponically, planted in January; they produce fruit until November; with even Walkers being interested in the produce! New strains of asparagus mean they can be grown much longer than the traditional season from St. George’s Day to Midsummers Day. New and exotic crops such as pak choi and an assortment of micro herbs supplement brassicas, field vegetables and the abundant apples and plums.

Horticulture across the West Midlands is a active and emergent sector. A 2011 study, ‘The Heart of Horticulture’, found that it is efficient and a significant economic driver.

It is valued to be worth £350 million at ‘farm gate value’ and this can be doubled when you include food processing. Add the impact on to the supply chain, distribution and retail, and the figures climbs into billions. Over 20,000 people are working in horticulture and yet it only uses 3% of the land. It’s a big success story, and driven by the success of areas such as the Vale of Evesham and crops like asparagus, the region accounts for 65% of all UK asparagus with 820 hectares devoted to this wonderful crop in Worcestershire. And the best, of course, comes from the Vale of Evesham!

Despite other parts of the country claiming to be the Garden of England, there isn’t anywhere else that has the diversity of the Vale; where the gentler pace of traditional growing living side by side with the modern methods necessary to fulfil today’s sophisticated 24/7 customer.

Fruit:ApplesBlackberriesCherriesCurrantsGooseberriesPearsPlumsRaspberriesStrawberries

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov DecVale of Evesham ProduceAnything goes when it comes to growing in the Vale of Evesham! Protected by the Cotswold escarpment and with light alluvial soils watered by the River Avon, it has long been associated with fruit and vegetable growing.

Vegetables & saladAsparagusBroad beansBrussel sproutsCabbageCalabreseCarrots/parsnipsCauliflowerChilliesCourgettesCucumberLeeksLettuceMarrowsPeasPeppersPumpkins/squashesPurple sproutingBroccoliRunner/dwarf beansSpring onionSweetcornTomatoes

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this guide, and statements herein are believed to be correct at the time of publication, Wychavon District Council are not liable for any errors or omissions. ©2016. All rights reserved. No part of this guide may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the publishers. Designed and published by Wychavon District Council.

Seasonality

Walsgrove Farm, Evesham Road, Worcester WR7 4QL | 01905 345371 / 07837216409www.walsgrove.co.uk Follow us on Facebook

• Professional coffee and homemade cakes

• Light lunches• Children’s indoor and

outdoor play area• Children’s parties

catered for

Walsgrove Farm

60+

20+

PYOand ready picked

types of apple

types of plum

Enjoy a unique museum experience at Worcestershire’s only 14th Century Almonry!

Explore through time from the prehistoric to the mid 20th Century, set within twelve rooms and tranquil gardens.

• Guided tours • Events throughout the year• Children’s activities • Collection discovery points

• Shop and tourist information office

Come and discover thousands of years in one building

www.almonryevesham.org Abbey Gate, Evesham, Worcs, WR11 4BG01386 446944 tic@almonry.ndo.co.uk

Bed & Breakfast and Self Catering Holidays • Short Breaks

• Business Stays • Quality Gradedwww.farmstayworcestershire.co.uk

WAKE UP TO THE COUNTRYFarmStayWorcestershire

PershoreSituated on the banks of Shakespeare’s River Avon is the idyllic town of Pershore - renowned for its beautiful 13th Century Norman Abbey that sits in the award winning Abbey Parklands. Pershore High Street boasts a wealth of independent shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants providing you with the perfect day out to browse for that special something and then enjoy some tasteful locally sourced food and drink. Other attractions not to be missed include Number 8 who offer an exciting programme of events including live productions, cinema films and art, whilst the Retail Market further enhances your shopping availability with excellent fresh, local and unique products on offer. Get up close to wildlife with the wonderful Wetlands, whilst Pershore College is famous for its abundance of unrivalled resources and is the base for the Royal Horticulture Society and national centre for horticulture.www.visitpershore.co.uk

EveshamEvesham is an historical market town filled with history, magnificent old buildings, arcades, shops, pubs and restaurants. It sits at the heart of the Vale of Evesham on the banks of the River Avon where fishing and boating prove to be popular pastimes. The award winning Abbey Park offers first class play facilities for children and is a perfect location for a picnic. The renowned Evesham Angling Festival is just on of the many events that take place in this beautiful festival town details of which may be found on the town’s website.

Evesham is an ideal touring centre with extensive road links to neighbouring famed attractions; the site of the battle of Evesham and the start of the famous Spring Blossom Trail.www.eveshamtown.co.uk

BroadwayBroadway has a unique position as it nestles between the vale of Evesham and the Cotswolds making it an ideal base to visit both of these extraordinary places. Broadway sits comfortably at the foot of Fish Hill, 1206 feet high and at the highest point of the northern Cotswolds, while on the summit stands Broadway Tower which was built in the 18th Century by the Earl of Coventry. Often referred to as ‘the Jewel of the Cotswolds’ and ‘the show village of England’ Broadway is home to one of the longest High Streets in England, surrounded by honey coloured stone and flanked by a village green. The village provides an array of activities and is home to two museums – the Gordon Russell Design Museum celebrating the life and work of Gordon Russell and the 20th century Arts and Crafts movement and the Ashmolean Museum Broadway which brings an international name and reputation to the village.www.beautifulbroadway.com or www.visit-broadway.co.uk

Places to visit

The Vale of Evesham is renowned for its production of this delicious vegetable – asparagus or ‘Gras’ as it is locally known. According to tradition the Asparagus season begins on St George’s Day and ends on Midsummer’s Day as local growers would ‘never cut beyond the midsummer bud’.

This year from 23 April to 21 June the Vale of Evesham will be going asparamad once again with numerous events taking place throughout the area providing the opportunity to taste, buy, cook and learn about one of the nations most sought after delicacies. The Great English Asparagus Run kick-starts the Asparagus Festival & celebrates St George’s Day. This seasonal tradition sees a “100” round of the finest Vale asparagus transported in true “Asum style”.

A continued tradition is the World Famous Bretforton Silver Band Asparagus Auction on both Sunday 29 May and Sunday 5 June. Taking place at the award winning Fleece Inn, a National Trust property, these auctions are an extremely popular annual ritual that sees hundreds gather in the courtyard to bid for the season’s largest freshest local asparagus, it has also attracted numerous media coverage including BBC’s Countryfile and Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip. The Fleece Inn provides a heart warming venue for all visitors throughout the entire asparagus season and will be welcoming families on Monday 30 May for their Asparagus Family Fun Day to follow the auction.

23 April to 21 June 2016

As well as all these asparagus related events, 2016 welcomes back the Dudley’s Coaches Asparabus Tours to enjoy an “Asparagus Experience” and deliver a value for money day out around the Vale of Evesham. Complete with an asparaguide to provide you with an entertaining insight into this majestic green vegetable. The tours take place on Wednesday 11 and 18 May.

If you fancy tasting this luxurious delicacy then why not pop in to one of the local pubs and restaurants in the Vale? Raphael’s Restaurant and The Fleece Inn, to name a few, launch extensive asparagus menus throughout the festive period to tempt the palates of locals and visitors alike. Various accommodation providers, hotels, farmhouses and guest houses will even be offering asparagus on their breakfast menus!

Or if you would prefer to experiment in cooking up a tasty treat with asparagus then why not visit a wealth of local farm shops that are situated in the Vale of Evesham? You can buy it almost straight from the fields from farm shops such as Wayside and Revills! Or why not experience the Asparagus Tasting Menu at Eckington Manor on 19 May? This menu has been created by head chefs Sue and Mark Stinchcombe with the latter recently winning BBC Masterchef: The Professionals so it is sure to be a menu to behold!

If none of this takes your fancy then why not try and grow your own asparagus? Many local garden centres and nurseries sell asparagus crowns so you can take home a taste of the Vale and savour it for years to come.

Or if your taste buds cannot wait until mid April, then why not pay a visit to Birlingham nurseries near Pershore. They hold a reputation for the earliest asparagus of the season from early March as it is grown under glass. Experience the intriguing purple range of asparagus from Revills Farm Shop where you will be able to enjoy the special variety and have a chance to purchase your own for home cooking.

Asparagus FestivalThe British

in the Vale of Evesham

@AsparagusFest The British Asparagus Festival

www.britishasparagusfestival.orginfo@britishasparagusfestival.org

AsparaFest returns for the 3rd year running as a boutique festival providing an A-Z of weekend entertainment, with a mix of magical music, the freshest of food, fascinating farm and country crafts, frolicsome fun, barrels of beer and awesome asparagus! Asparafest will take place on Saturday 4 June and Sunday 5 June at Ashdown Farm near Badsey. For information regarding Asparafest visit www.asparafest.co.uk or email info@asparafest.co.uk.

As Seen on

BBC TV’s Terry and

Mason’s Great

Food Trip and My

Life on a Plate

featuring

Alistair

McGowan

As Seen on

BBC TV’s Terry and

Mason’s Great

Food Trip and My

Life on a Plate

featuring

Alistair

McGowanTriple Winner of the Worcestershire Best Festival and Events Award

Plum Festival

Pershore

www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk

History of the Pershore PlumThe Pershore plum story started in the 1830s when a landlord of the Butcher’s Arms pub in Church Street discovered a seedling of a wild plum growing in the ancient Tiddesley Wood on the outskirts of Pershore. This became known as the Pershore Yellow Egg Plum.

During the food shortage of the First World War Pershore fruit and plums were transported by train throughout the country. This was commemorated in 1927 with Great Western Railways naming the first and only train after a fruit… The Pershore Plum! The juicy reputation of the area’s plums was also remembered in a horse race, the popular ‘The Land O’Plums Chase’. After 72 years, in celebration of the continued success of the area’s plums – Worcester Racecourse has revived this historic race which is run as part of The Pershore Plum Festival celebrations.

At the Pershore flower show in 1920 a poster advertising the event described it as the “largest plum show on earth” and almost years later the town is striving to recreate this spectacle.

The Festival was resurrected in 1996 by four locals, Environmentalist David Shaw, Historian Marion Freeman, John Edgeley and Ron Jeynes all sharing the passion for the famous Pershore plum. The Pershore Plum Fayre aimed to raise awareness and profile of Pershore and its association with plums. Over the next 12 years, the event grew in size and popularity and in 2008 the one day event became a month

26 July - 29 August 2016 long spectacle and is now one of the most successful events the town has ever seen.

Pershore in August is instantly synonymous with plums and purple. For the entire month, the beautiful market town turns purple to celebrate the love of the fruit that made the town so famous. A triple winner of Worcestershire Best Festival and Event, coupled with being an internationally renowned event, the Pershore Plum Festival is a unique and quirky festival with events and activities to suit the whole family cumulating on August Bank Holiday Weekend!

Sunday 3 July 2016From this date Pershore will begin to slowly turn purple, leading up to the August Bank Holiday Weekend! Starting off the celebrations with the Plum Princess Garden Party. This unique themed garden party includes: fancy dress, music, games, refreshments and the crowning of the 2016 Plum Princess.

Tuesday 26 July 2016On this date, the Festival resurrects prestigious local racing history with the Angel Hotel Plum Festival Race Night. A purple themed evening packed with Victorian and Edwardian antiquities and the revival of many horse races which celebrate the famous Pershore plums.

11, 18 and 25 August 2016With the help of the Evesham Vale Tour Guides and Dudley’s Coaches, the Pershore Plum Festival is delighted to offer a unique experience for plum lovers of all ages with an exciting guided tour of the beautiful Georgian town of Pershore and its famous fruit. Back again for this years tour, is a visit to an orchard

where you can pick your own fruit. You can be sure the plum guides will produce the ‘Plum goods’ for your entertainment throughout the day!

Thursday 25 August 2016The Plum Festival is pleased to announce the advent of their newest event – the 999 Bike Nite. With a prominence towards BIKES all the emergency services, including the Midlands Air Ambulance will be in attendance. Whether it’s a moped, motor bike, scooter, chopper or trike , everyone is welcome for a night of entertainment, fun, bikes and plummy food and drink…. Don’t forget to wear your purple!

27, 28 and 29 August 2016This August Bank Holiday weekend will continue as a three day extravaganza of purple plum fun. Over the long weekend join The Angel Hotel for the Big Plum, Beer, Food and Music Festival taking place across all three days.

Pershore will be full to the brim with plummy pleasures providing a plum crazy weekend for visitors coming from far and wide. The Plum Festival Fayre Day on Bank Holiday Monday, is a fun day out for all the family at Pershore’s three time award winning event with attractions throughout the town including Plum Alley (plums, tastings, and plum products including soaps, sausages and jams), classic and vintage cars, award winning famers’ market, boat trips, arts and crafts, children’s activities and a food village. Also new for this year is the expansion of Sunday’s family fun day where all the family flock for a jam-packed day of fun and frolics.

Plum Festival

The Pershore

@PlumFestival Pershore Plum Fest

www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk info@pershoreplumfestival.org.uk

Vale Trail Events

Saturday 28 May

Little Comberton Street MarketManor Lane, Little CombertonLynne Yapp | 07971 362445lynneyapp@btinternet.com www.little-comberton.com/street-market

Sunday 5 June

Open Farm SundayOverbury FarmClaire Creek | 01386 725111reception@overburyestate.co.ukwww.overburyfarms.co.uk

Saturday 18 - Sunday 19 June

Droitwich Spa Food and Drink FestivalTown Centre and Vines Park, Droitwich SpaPatrick Davis | 07796 681518droitwichfestival@btinternet.com www.droitwichfestival.co.uk

Saturday 9 – Sunday 10 July

Fladbury WalkaboutVillage Centre, FladburyMartin Ounsted | 01386 860363walkabout@fladburyvillage.co.ukwww.fladburyvillage.co.uk

Saturday 27 August

Great Comberton Flower ShowBrailles Orchard, Great CombertonSuzanne Hamilton | 01386 710466Suzanne.hamilton1@virgin.net www.theflowershow.org.uk

Saturday 8 – Sunday 9 October

Apple WeekendWalsgrove Farm, Evesham Road, WorcesterMargaret Haywood | 01905 345371margaret.haywood@gmail.com

Sunday 3 April

Overbury Lambing Day Overbury FarmClaire Creek | 01386 725111reception@overburyestate.co.ukwww.overburyfarms.co.uk

Sunday 1 May

Tiddesley Wood Spring Open DayTiddesley Wood Nature Reserve, Besford Road, Pershore, WR10 2AD Bob Gillmor | 01386 556685openday@tiddesley.org.uk www.tiddesley.org.uk

Sunday 1 - Monday 2 May

Cropthorne WalkaboutCropthorne VillageRichard Mumford | 01386 86277007831 150974 richard.mumford@gmfarm.co.uk www.cropthornewalkabout.co.uk

For more events visit www.visitwychavon.com

Hampton FerryEvesham’s Best Kept Secret

• Holiday Caravan Site• Boat Moorings• Angling• Raphael’s Restaurant• Caravan Rallies Welcome • Ample Car Parking• Cyclists, Walkers and groups welcome• Coaches by appointment• Private Parties and Outside Catering

undertaken• Sunday Carvery• Large Beer Garden

Open throughout the year

Boat Lane, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 4BPT: 01386 45460 E: raphaels@hamptonferry.co.ukwww.hamptonferry.com

FOUR ACRES NURSERIES

A friendly run nursery with a wide range of herbaceous perennials, grasses, alpines, bedding and basket plants. Many designs of baskets empty or filled.

Winter pansies, primroses, bulbs and barefoot hedging available. National Garden gift vouchers. We also sell fresh, free range eggs.

Open seven days a week, 10am – 5pm.

Great Comberton Road, Pensham, Nr. PershoreWorcestershire WR10 3DY. Tel: 01386 550357

Fruit TreesGrowers of a wide range of fruit trees, the nursery offers many varieties of plums, gages, damsons, apples, pears, cherries, quinces, etc to suit all situations. Viewing welcome. Trees by collection or delivery. Knowledgeable advice given.

Walcot Organic Nursery, Lower Walcot Farm, Walcot Lane, Drakes Broughton, Pershore. WR10 2ALTel. 01905 841587 www.walcotnursery.co.uk

The Evesham Hotel is just a short walk from the banks of the River Avon and right

in the heart of the Blossom Trail.Offering superb food and unique wines.

You can relax in our 2.5 acres of stunning gardens or ease away your stresses and

strains in our Mullberry Spa.

The Evesham Hotel, Cooper’s Lane, Evesham WR11 1DA

01386 765566 www.eveshamhotel.com

and Mulberry Spa

Tourist Information Centres

BroadwayT: 01386 852937E: info@visitbroadway.co.uk

Droitwich SpaT: 01905 774312 E: heritage@droitwichspa.gov.uk

EveshamTel: 01386 446944 Email: tic@almonry.ndo.co.uk

PershoreT: 01386 556591 E: tourism@pershore-tc.gov.uk

Contact Us For information regarding accommodation and future events visit www.visitwychavon.com

Gui�d t�r ��ps at

ragley.co.ukRagley Hall, Park & Gardens Alcester, Warwickshire

Special guided tours of Ragley Hall are available for group bookings

Droitwich Spa • Charter Market - Victoria Square -

every Fri• Farmers’ Market - Victoria Square -

6 Feb, 5 Mar, 2 Apr, 7 May, 4 Jun, 2 Jul, 6 Aug, 3 Sep, 1 Oct, 5 Nov, 3 Dec

• St. Richard’s Boat and Car Festival Market - Sat 30 Apr 9am - 4pm

• Italian Market – Saltbarrow Market • Farmers and Craft Markets - Victoria

Square• Salt Fest Markets - Sat 10 Sept

9am - 4.30pm• Farmers and Craft Markets - St. Andrews

Street• Street Market - High Street

Evesham • Charter Market - Market Place and

High Street - every Sat• Farmers’ Market - Market Place and

High Stree - last Fri of every month• Evesham Traditional Christmas Market -

High Street - Sat 17 Dec - Sat 24 Dec

Pershore • Pershore Carnival Market -

Abbey Park - Mon 30 May• Pershore Plum Festival Markets -

Handcraft Market - Abbey Park - Sun 28 Aug Broad Street - Mon 29 Aug

• Christmas Market - Broad Street - Sun 11 Dec

Markets

Hugh Edwards, Chairman of Moorcroft Pottery, celebrates his 30th Year at the helm of the famous pottery with a collection that champions his Vale of Evesham origins. With nine pieces in the

collection, with each piece made entirely by hand from start to finish in Staffordshire, and following a recipe that dates back to the 17th Century, where designs were outlined in liquid clay slip, before being hand painted with glaze techniques discovered by the pottery’s founding father, William Moorcroft, in 1897. These Vale of Evesham designs include Bredon Hill, Broadway Tower and Shakespeare’s Flowers, and will be available for all to purchase at a special event at Evesham Town Hall. The Blossom trail picks two fruity favourites. In post-war England, it was in summertime that the Vale of Evesham changed from a quiet haven of silent fruit orchards and tidy market gardens, in to one of the bustling, cosmopolitan centres of England’s fruit and vegetable industry. The canning and jam factories opened for the season and local ‘pickers’ drawn from the surrounding villages were recruited by the growers to pick the fruit crops. Together, they made a small army, strengthened by an influx of travellers and Romany gypsies.

A Chairman Reminisces and Britain’s Finest Art Pottery Celebrates...

Over the years, earning his much-needed pocket money, Hugh acquired several Romany friends who took him home to meet ‘Ma.’ Wistfully, Hugh recalls, “Ma was head of the local family, and it was she who organised the men and told them where to go picking and what to do. In traditional Romany style, Ma’s caravan was covered with images of flowers, toadstools, leaping fish and elegant trees, but immediately next to it was a new caravan, shaped in the same style, but which was pure white. This was Queenie’s van, the home of a young, olive-skinned girl with long black hair who I often found crouching at the edge of Shakespeare’s Avon trapping slippery eels with large hessian sacks filled with pig entrails. Ma would not tolerate me speaking to Queenie, and as a result, the Romany girl remained a mystery to the end.” After telling his tale to Moorcroft designer, Emma Bossons FRSA, Queenie’s Van, on a fine hexagonal plate was the result. Ma’s colourful van takes centre stage and Queenie’s white van stands next to it. Pictured right is Kirkes Blue, designed by Moorcroft’s senior designer, Rachel Bishop with a sumptuous array of rich, purple plums on a voluptuous pear shaped vase, complete with currants, another of the Vales’s favourite pickings. Renowned for its heavenly blue-purple hues, Kirke’s Blue found favour in the early 19th Century but proved too uncommercial for the late Victorians. Absolutely perfect for Moorcroft’s jewel-like glazes, Kirke’s Blue showcases the Vale of Evesham as an international feast for the eyes.For further enquiries about Moorcroft please see www.moorcroft.com and contact enquires@moorcroft.com or telephone the pottery on 01782 820500.

You are warmly invited to join Moorcroft and their artists at the Chairman’s Celebratory Event in Evesham Town Hall on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th April 2016 between 10am

and 4.30pm. Television celebrity, and Moorcroft Director, Eric Knowles, will be with Hugh and his wife Maureen, on both days, and he will be able to identify all of your old Moorcroft without charge. As well as meeting acclaimed designer, Vicky Lovatt, who has also created works of art inspired by Shakespeare for his 400th Birthday in April, this special Evesham Event will enable you to find out more about the world’s best loved art pottery through a

free of charge lecture by Hugh himself at 11am each day.