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Asparagus

For nearly a hundred years, one of the main crops grown in Badsey and the surrounding area was asparagus; from the late 19th century until the Second World War, the Vale of Evesham was the premier asparagus growing area of England. Long beloved by the Greeks and Romans, asparagus was brought to England in the 16th century. By the 17th century it was being grown commercially in London; by the 19th century, when the capital city was becoming too built up, asparagus fields were set up in the Vale of Evesham. The decline set in after the Second World War and the growing of asparagus has virtually disappeared in Badsey.

But, within the Vale, there are attempts to keep the asparagus tradition alive. Each year, an annual asparagus auction is held at The Fleece Inn in the neighbouring parish of Bretforton. The Evesham Asparagus Festival has been held since 2005. Pubs such as The Round of Gras (formerly The Royal Oak but renamed in 1967) in Badsey offer asparagus suppers in season.

The Badsey Society’s DVD, Asparagus and Beyond the Blossom, contains two short films about asparagus growing and plum growing in the Vale of Evesham. The asparagus film explains the fast vanishing methods of cultivation, as well as describing the local approach to cooking, exhibiting and the manufacture of asparagus knives. It is available by mail order.

Asparafest Poster 2013
Asparafest Programme 2013
Asparafest Programme 2014
Asparagus Festival Community Interest Company invitation
Asparagus Festival lapel badge promoting the Vale of Evesham Asparagus Festival
Asparagus Festival promotional bookmark - Amazing Asparagus
British Asparagus Festival in the Vale of Evesham Programme 2012
Business card - The Round of Gras
News article 1903 Mar 21 - From the Archives 100 years ago, Asparagus looking set to be a good crop
News article 1930 May 31 - From the Archives 75 years ago, Prize bundle of asparagus
News article 1931 Feb 7 - From the Archives 75 years ago, Mr Binyon retires as president of Asparagus Growers
News article 1957 Jan 11 - From the Archives 50 years ago, AGM of Evesham Asparagus Growers' Association
News article 1957 May - Archive Journal 50 years ago, Vegetable growers are told your asparagus is the best!
News article 1960 Dec - Archive Journal 50 years ago, Asparagus show to move from Evesham to Badsey
News article 1974 Apr - The "Gras" men of the Vale
News article 1978 Feb 23 - From the Archives 25 years ago, asparagus show abandoned because of lack of interest
News article 1978 May 11 - From the Archives 25 years ago, Arrival of season's asparagus delayed by cold spring
News article 2000 Apr - Where the "Grass" is Greener
News article 2000 May 4 - Cooking up an A-list vegetable
News article 2000 May 20 - Spears of Destiny
News article 2000 May - The 'gras is greener
News article 2000 Jun 15 - Nursing home treat
News article 2000 - Improving on its gras roots charm
News article 2002 Mar 28 - A coup for Vale's gras
News article 2002 Apr - Celebrating the mighty gras
News article 2004 - The gras is greener on this side
News article 2005 Apr - The Round of Gras cuisine
News article 2005 Jun 23 - Oliver Royal! Jamie helps boost sales of the queen of vegetables in the Vale
News article 2006 - Evesham gras is always greener
News article 2006 - Glorious gras is celebrated in a week long festival
News article 2008 Apr 24 - Natural Gras
News article 2008 Apr - Commons reception for Vale asparagus
News article 2008 Nov 6 - Asparagus tours bigger and better
News article 2011 Apr 8 - Round of Gras, Badsey, warm asparagus awaits you!
News article 2011 Nov 11 - Do not adjust your sets …
News article 2012 May 24 - Asparagus price is set to double
News article 2013 Feb 14 – Asparafest set to celebrate music, food and farming
News Article 2013 Apr 25 - It's cry God for England, Asparagus & St George!
News Article 2013 Apr - Advertising The British Asparagus Festival
News Article 2013 May 9 - Cleaning up with gras-shaped soap
News article 2013 May – They’ll be green with envy at our gras cart
News Article 2013 Jun 6 - First-ever festival proves a huge hit
News Article 2013 Jun - Advertising for Evesham Asparafest
News article 2013 Jul 11 – If we step on the gras we could win the wacky race
News Article 2014 Mar 6 - Asparagus festival is hot tip this spring
News Article 2014 Apr 24 - Annual asparagus event launch paints town green
News Article 2014 Apr 24 - The green, green "gras" of home
News Article 2014 Apr - Advertising for The British Asparagus Festival
News Article 2014 May 29 - The Asparagus Man cometh on Saturday
News Article 2014 Nov 20 - Aspara Writing festival returns
News Article 2015 Jan 8 - What Vale asparagus tells Jemima about 2015 events
News article 2015 Jun 4 - Veggie festival is a huge success for town
News article 2015 Jun 18 - Vegetable shaped like a V is sign of bountiful year
News article 2016 Dec 15 - At last! Vale's asparagus gets European protection
News Article 2017 April 20 - It's nearly gras-giving time
News article 2017 April 26 - Cathedral in bizarre 'panto' to bless its local asparagus crop
News Article 2017 April 27 - Asparagus treat delivered to European Parliament
News article 2017 Apr 27 - Blessed asparagus
News Article 2017 Jun 1 - Gus gets growing fan club
News Article 2017 Jun 15 - Asparafest is big draw again for thousands
News Article 2017 Jun 15 - Ten spears in double quick time for queen
News article Jun 5 2014 - Frolics and fun food at 'quirky' AsparaFest
News article Dec 9 2016 - Asparagus name wins protection
News artilcle 2017 April 26 - A King's Blessing