British Asparagus Festival begins in village

Morris dancers and "colourful characters" have helped to start the British Asparagus Festival in Worcestershire.

The day began with "rural pageantry" at The Fleece Inn in the village of Bretforton before the "first asparagus spears of the season" were driven off in a motorcade of classic cars, organisers said.

St George's Day has become the starting point for the festival and over the years the launch has been marked with a variety of trips, including to Buckingham Palace and Worcester Cathedral.

On Thursday, the convoy headed to an 18th Century house, the National Trust's Croome in the county, celebrating the Vale of Evesham's asparagus and the region's heritage.

The festival launch day blended "humour, tradition and serious support for local growers, kicking off two months of asparagus-themed events across the region", organisers stated.

The landlord of The Fleece Inn, Nigel Smith, who is also chairman of the British Asparagus Festival community interest company, said the Gus the Asparagus Man character was "wandering about in a strident and green manner".

Smith added: "We like being bonkers in Britain, don't we?

"It is absolutely I think the essence of quintessential Englishness... and I'm very pleased to be a part of it, very privileged."

Vale of Evesham asparagus had got protected geographical indication status, the chairman said.

This is intended to ensure people know they are drinking or eating an authentic product from a specific area.

Smith said it was "such a special crop grown in a special soil in a particular geographic area" and only really was "to be picked and sold between St George's Day, 23 April, and 21 June, which is Midsummer's Day".

"That's the traditional Vale season and although you can buy asparagus before and after that, we are very pleased to celebrate the traditional nature of Evesham asparagus."

Thursday's activities marked the start of a six-week-long celebration of the vegetable.

Sally, from the mostly women Asum Gras Molly Morris dancers, said they "don't have a uniform".

But she added "we dress in green with subtle hints of purple to emulate the colours in the asparagus in the beautiful Vale of Evesham".

"Everybody's just so happy, you can tell, can't you, by the atmosphere."

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