A unique horticultural experience around the Vale of Evesham www.worcestershires-heritage-garden.org About the Vale Trail Watered by the River Avon History of Vale and bound by the Cotswolds, Bredon and the Malverns, Horticulture lies the horticultural Vale of The Vale of Evesham has long been famous Evesham. For centuries the for its high fertility. Labelled as the ‘Garden of England’ and ‘Eden of Fertility’ the horticulture in Vale of Evesham has been the Vale of Evesham can be tracked as far back regarded as the fruit and as the early 19th century. In 1805 it was evident vegetable basket of England that asparagus, cucumber and onions were grown in considerable scales within the Vale and has provided fertile soil of Evesham before being sent to Birmingham that supports the growing markets for sale. From 1825 gardening spread to the villages on the east side of Evesham and communities. Badsey became the new centre of development. At the same time the railway came to Evesham Evesham and its surrounding area have gained and in 1852 the Worcester to Oxford line a much sought after reputation for producing opened, marking the beginning of the ‘modern’ the highest quality produce. To help you enjoy period of Evesham horticulture. By 1845 it the incredible quality of the Vale’s produce, the was believed that the Vale’s garden ground Vale Trail has been designed to give you an amounted to over 500 acres providing the enhanced horticultural experience – just a taste foundations for its growing horticulture. Before of what the area has to offer. 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, Content chestnuts, pears, walnuts, 3 About the Vale Trail mulberry trees, gooseberries and strawberries some of 4-5 Vale of Evesham Produce which can still be seen! 6 Places to visit 8-9 Vale Trail Events Grateful thanks to 10-11 The British Asparagus Glynis Dray for our Festival cover picture 12-13 The Pershore Plum Festival ©Glynis Dray 2013 3 Vale of Seasonality Evesham FruitFruit: : Jan Jan FebFeb MarMar AprApr MayMay JunJun JulJul AugAug SepSep OctOct NovNov DecDec Produce ApplesApples BlackberriesBlackberries CherriesCherries CurrantsCurrants GooseberriesGooseberries PearsPears PlumsPlums RaspberriesRaspberries StrawberriesStrawberries Just about everything grows in Horticulture across the West Midlands is a dynamic and growing sector. A 2011 study, ‘The VegetablesVegetables the Vale of Evesham! Protected Heart of Horticulture’, found that it is efficient && Salads: Salads: Jan Jan FebFeb MarMar AprApr MayMay JunJun JulJul AugAug SepSep OctOct NovNov DecDec and an important economic driver. by the Cotswold escarpment and AsparagusAsparagus with light alluvial soils watered It is estimated to be worth £350 million at ‘farm BroadBroad Beans Beans by the River Avon, it has long gate value’ and this can be doubled when you BrusselsBrussels Sprouts Sprouts been associated with fruit and include food processing. Add the impact on to the supply chain, distribution and retail, and the CabbageCabbage vegetable growing. figures move into billions. Over 20,000 people CalabreseCalabrese work in horticulture and yet it only uses 3% of Carrots/ParsnipsCarrots/Parsnips Traditionally the growers were market gardeners the land. It’s a great success story, and driven with small plots of land in Badsey, the Littletons by the success of areas such as the Vale of CauliflowerCauliflower and Offenham. There are still small growers in Evesham and crops like asparagus, the region ChilliesChillies the Vale who operate in this way – literally market accounts for 65% of all UK asparagus with 820 gardeners growing for the wholesale markets hectares dedicated to this wonderful crop in CourgettesCourgettes or for local customers – but the demands of the Worcestershire. And the best, of course, comes CucumberCucumber modern supermarket customer have led to a from the Vale of Evesham! modernised, cutting edge horticultural sector. LeeksLeeks Tomatoes are now grown hydroponically, planted Other parts of the country may claim to be the LettuceLettuce in January, they produce fruit until November. Garden of England, but there isn’t anywhere MarrowsMarrows New strains of asparagus mean it can be grown else that has the diversity of the Vale, where the much longer than the traditional season from gentler pace of traditional growing living side PeasPeas St. George’s day to Midsummer’s Day. New by side with the modern methods necessary PeppersPeppers and exotic crops such as Pak Choi and a range to satisfy today’s sophisticated 24/7 Pumpkins/SquashesPumpkins/Squashes of micro herbs supplement Brassicas, field customer. vegetables and the abundant apples and plums. PurplePurple Sprouting/Broccoli Sprouting/Broccoli Runner/DwarfRunner/Dwarf Beans Beans SpringSpring Onions Onions Did you Know? SweetcornSweetcorn TomatoesTomatoes Walkers Prawn Cocktail and Tomato Ketchup flavoured crisps use Vale of Evesham 4 Tomatoes! 5 Places to visit keep them busy; and culture vultures will revel Pershore in the art-deco Regal cinema, arts centre and The idyllic town of Pershore is situated on the historic buildings. Evesham is an ideal touring banks of Shakespeare’s Riven Avon and is centre with extensive road links to neighbouring renowned for its beautiful 13th century Norman famed attractions; the site of the battle of Abbey that sits in the award winning Abbey Evesham and the start of the famous Spring parklands. Pershore High Street boasts a Blossom Trail. wealth of independent shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants providing you with the perfect day out to browse for that special something Broadway and then enjoy locally sourced food, wines, Broadway has a unique position as it is nestles ales and ciders. Other attractions not to be between the Vale of Evesham and the Cotswolds missed include the award winning Number 8 making it an ideal base to visit both these Community Arts Centre and Pershore College. extraordinary places. Broadway sits comfortably Number 8 offers an exciting programme of at the foot of Fish Hill, 1206 feet high and at the events including live productions, cinema highest point of the northern Cotswolds, while on films and art gallery, while Pershore College the summit stands Broadway Tower which was is internationally renowned for its abundance built in the 18th century by the Earl of Coventry. of unrivalled resources and is the base for the Often referred to as ‘the Jewel of the Cotswolds’ Royal Horticultural Society and national centre and ‘the show village of England’ Broadway of horticulture. is home to one of the longest High Streets in England surrounded by honey coloured stone and flanked by a village green. The village Evesham provides an array of activities and is home to two At the heart of the horticultural Vale, the award museums - the Gordon Russell Design Museum, winning market town of Evesham stands on celebrating the Cotswold Craft heritage, and the Farm Shop and Vintage Style Tea Room the banks of the River Avon where fishing and newly opened Ashmolean Museum Broadway boating prove to be popular pastimes. The which brings an internationally recognised name Fresh local produce. Own-made preserves, cakes and light lunches. renowned Evesham Angling Festival celebrates to Broadway. Menus themed to Vale of Evesham blossom trail, asparagus and plum festivals. the leisure of fishing over the August Bank Come and try our Blossom Trail treats, Asparagus Jam Holiday weekend every year entertaining both and Plum Preserves! locals and travelling visitors. As featured on the Good Food Channels Shoppers are well catered for with a wide range ‘Bill’s Tasty Weekends’ and BBC Countryfile! of independent traders; active types will find plenty of sports and activities to Find us on the A44 at Wickhamford between Evesham and Broadway. WR11 7RT. Tel 01386 830546 www.waysidefarmshop.co.uk Follow our blog, twitter and Facebook 7 6 7 Vale Trail Events Saturday 12 & Thursday 8 - Saturday 7 & Sunday 22 June Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 Saturday 20 & Sunday 13 April Sunday 11 May Sunday 8 June The Vale First Food July Sunday 21 September Droitwich Spa and District RHS Malvern Spring Pershore Open Festival Droitwich Spa and District Droitwich Spa and District Horticultural Society: Horticultural Society: Horticultural Society: Festival Gardens All Saints Church Yard, Spring Flower Show Three Counties Showground, 18 gardens in Pershore Evesham Summer Flower Show Autumn Flower Show Val Jancey 01905 778384 David’s Nurseries, Ash Lane, Malvern Jan Garratt 01386 553197 www.transitioneveshamvale. David’s Nurseries, Ash Lane, [email protected] Martin Hussingtree Three Counties Agricultural www.ngs.org.uk org.uk Martin Hussingtree Val Jancey 01905 778384 Val Jancey 01905 778384 Society 01684 584924 Sunday 21 September [email protected] www.threecounties.co.uk Friday 13 - Friday 27 - [email protected] Sunday 29 June Specialist Plant Fair Sunday 27 April Sunday 15 June Saturday 26 July Sunday 18 May Royal Three Church Lench Spetchley Plant Gardens, Specialist Plant Fair Spring Plant Fair Badsey Flower Worcester Counties Show Flower Festival Chris Pattison 01531 650480 Spetchley Plant Gardens, Hanbury Hall Show Three Counties Showground, The Church & Village Hall www.plantfair.co.uk Worcester Alison Cross 01527 821214 The Recreation Ground, Sands Malvern Jane Powell 01386 871811 Chris Pattison 01531 650480 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ Lane, Badsey Three Counties