2008 festival | 2007 festival | 2007 food awards | images from the 2007 festival

The festival parade, Antony Worrall Thompson’s cookery demonstrations and the arrival of the watercress man were just some the attractions at the 2007 festival. The parade kick started the day with participants including two stilt walking Praying Mantas, an elderly double act of miniature proportions but big personalities called the Flying Buttresses, local school children dressed as creatures of the river bed, a lady wearing a watercress hat and the Watercress Man, who led the procession.

Antony Worrall Thompson showed the crowds how the real chefs’ do it, by demonstrating his three watercress recipes made specially in celebration of National Watercress Week. The popular celebrity chef also judged and presented the festival Food Awards. There were seven winners in total which consisted of stall holders on the day and local eateries based in and around Alresford.
There were plenty of activities for the children including a bouncy castle, face painting, a climbing wall, merry go round, mask making workshops and cookery classes. Between those activities there was plenty of action to watch on the street, with performances from the Morris Men, Juggling Jake, local folk band Albatross Pie and the Sun Hill Infants school who performed a dance titled ‘Creatures of the River Bed’.

Food lovers were well catered for with over 45 stalls from Hampshire Fare traders. Watercress was the main ingredient on the menu and the local superfood inspired a variety of tasty creations such as watercress and lime chocolates from the Alresford Chocolate Company, watercress houmous from Pollen Organics, and a watercress sauce from Casson’s English Herbs.

Although it did rain on the day, the festival attracted 8000 visitors. The Watercress Alliance gave away free watercress to the crowds in return for a donation to Lynn Faulds Wood Bowel Cancer Campaign, which together with other collections raised a total of £2000.