Cotswold Chatterblog

May 27-June 3 2007 Asparagus Festival, Fleece Inn, Bretforton,

Events include an asparagus auction, farmer’s market, morris dancing, Children’s asparagus trail, fairy grotto,craft fair,silver band and displays of asparagus artifacts. Samuel Pepys loved it and Shakespeare has a passing affection for it (so they say). Come and stay at Little Gidding and give it a go.

The Fleece Inn is a historic National Trust property and is worth going to see for it’s original interior alone including one of the finest sets of pewter plates in the UK.

The Fleece is situated in the heart of Worcestershire’s Vale of Evesham- the traditional home of English asparagus.

The Festival is a must for the asparagus lover providing theopportunity to taste,buy and learn about one of the country’s most sought after delicacies.

On Monday 28th May Rachel Green, TV’s Flying Chef will provide a cookery demonstration.

www.british-asparagus.co.uk

www.thefleeceinn.co.uk

Asparagus is ready in the Vale of Evesham. Crisp, tasty asparagus stems are ready to be bundled, steamed,drizzled with melted butter and served simply at all the local pubs and restaurants. There is nothing like it and because the season is so short make sure that you get your fill.

We have our own small patch of Asparagus at Little Gidding ,which we started to cut two weeks ago, but if you come and stay with us in May we will send you to the best local suppliers to ensure that you buy it and eat it fresh. Also see the article on the Fleece Asparagus Festival on our events page. www.thefleeceinn.co.uk.

( Be warned asparagus makes your pee stink!!)

May Day Holiday – the Cotswold Way becomes a National Trail

The Cotswold Way follows the escarpment from Chipping Campden in the north to Bath Abbey in the south, a distance of 102 miles(164k). It will be the 14th National Trail in England and Wales and work has been going on for a number of years to prepare the route for its new status including new sections and safer road crossings

The highest point on the Cotswold Way is Cleeve Common near Winchcombe at 317m and the Way passes 14 Iron Age Hillforts on its journey

A small piece of trivia – the fountain at Stanway House near Winchcombe, which is passed by the Way, is the highest gravity fed fountain in the world at over 300ft.

See www.nationaltrail.co.uk