THE picturesque Vale of Evesham is often referred to as the fruit basket of England due to its rich and fertile farmlands.

The area is traditionally a centre for growing fruit and veg, in particular the famous Vale as-paragus, known to be the best in the country, which has its own festivals throughout April and May when it is in season.

In the spring and summer the Vale comes alive with colour and one of the glories of the area is the blossom trail, a magnet for locals and tourists. There are also plenty of big festivals in and around the area, including Pershore Jazz Festival and Evesham River Festival.

As well as the buildings and festivals, the area is dominated by the River Avon, which flows through the Vale on its way from Stratford to Tewkesbury and is the focus for many events during the year, including dragon boat racing.

There are also a huge number of small villages and hamlets well off the beaten track and the area is close to famous tourism hotspots in the Cotswolds and Stratford. And with Birming-ham's bustling city centre only an hour away, visitors can really get the best of both worlds.