Watercress Festival

Today was the 10^th annual Watercress Festival in the little Hampshire village of Alresford.  We made use of the Festival Park & Ride at Ropley and hopped a very crowded and warm stream train on the Mid Hants Railway for the short journey over.

The Watercress Festival is an annual street festival celebrating the locally grown watercress. The festival also draws together other food producers from all over the local area to create this free food festival.

The colourful Morris men and women were performing at top of Broad Street and attracted a good crowd, both young and old.

The Food Market was situated in Broad Street and had over 40 stalls from Hampshire Farmers Market.

There was plenty to tempt even the steely-willed of us from olives to handmade breads.

For our mid-morning “coffee” we popped into Caracoli Café and Food Store also located in Broad Street.

We have been meaning to visit this café since seeing the chefs participating in day time bakery competition on ITV a few months back. The coffee I am told was impressive.

For our journey home we could not, not purchase one of these naughty fresh fruit cupcake.

Bluebells and Azaleas

A bright but chilly start to the May Bank Holiday weekend with temperatures only just above freezing. After seeing many inspirational photos recently from friends of the bluebell displays around the South East, it prompted me to drive over to the National Trust’s Winkworth Arboretum with my camera.

Probably just in time too, as the helpful lady at the entrance was saying that this was probably the last weekend for the bluebells.

There were plenty of bluebells still to see and admire.  Often the camera just doesn’t do the carpet of blue justice.

The blooming azaleas were  stunningly magnificent in their white and pinks.