The vital ingredient for growing watercress is, of course, water – mineral rich flowing water from which the peppery salad leaf takes its many nutrients. So important is this traditional growing method that British watercress farmers have asked the EU to give them protected food status, which would ensure that land grown cress cannot be sold as the "real thing".

Watercress is a fantastic salad leaf. Its plump, vibrant leaves not only taste wonderfully peppery, but they are amazingly good for us too, brimming with vitamins and minerals. Watercress is so versatile and is delicious when mixed into a light salad, sizzling stir fry and wholesome soup. Give your body a boost of goodness and try our sweet pork and chilli stir fry, delicious roasted vegetables and watercress linguine or tasty watercress, mango and chicken salad.

Make a date in your diary for Sunday 16 May 2010 when the annual Watercress Festival will be taking place in the stunning Georgian town of Alresford, in Hampshire. Come and celebrate the start to the British watercress season and visit the home of watercress farming where there will be an array of family entertainment, cookery demonstrations and farm tours. Meanwhile, to learn more about watercress and discover some delicious recipes, why not order a copy of the watercress book for £6.99 plus £2.78 p&p.

Watercress is brimming with over 15 vitamins and minerals, gram for gram containing more vitamin C than oranges, more calcium than milk and more iron than spinach. Research is also highlighting its role in the fight against cancer. The results of a new study being conducted by the University of Southampton into watercress’s potential ability to suppress breast cancer cell development are due to be announced on 15th September 2010.