AFTER a two-year hiatus due to the Covid pandemic, the Alresford Watercress Festival will return later this year.

The ‘Capital of Watercress’ will be once again welcoming fans of the salad leaf from around the world on Sunday May 15 to celebrate the start of the UK watercress season.

The festival begins with the newly crowned King and Queen of Watercress parading through the town dispensing freshly harvested watercress to the crowds.

Cookery demos by local and celebrity chefs show will take place and speakers will explain its health credentials.

Meanwhile, shopping urges for delicious artisanal foods and quirky crafts can be satisfied by visiting the many stalls lining the two main streets, all accompanied to music from local bands playing on stage.

Watercress itself will be available in abundance with free bags of watercress on offer at The Watercress Company stand, as well as samples of a watercress smoothie or watercress pesto.

People are also invited to take part in the World Watercress Eating Championships. The current champion is Glenn Walsh, who in 2019 successfully ate an 85g bag of watercress in 41.6 seconds.

The festival is free to attend, although there are parking fees and the organisers do urge visitors to give a donation to the Abby’s Heroes, a local children’s cancer charity.

For more information about the festival or for directions and parking information, visit www.watercressfestival.org.

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