Sophie Boxall, of Hampshire Fare, brings you the latest news and events, including a preview of next month's Watercress Festival.

This year's Watercress Festival, on Sunday, May 14, is set to draw huge crowds again to the beautiful Georgian town of Alresford, when celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson demonstrates recipes using local watercress.

Try to buy fabulous food and drink from Hampshire producers, including Hampshire Fare members Oven Door Bakery, Real Jam & Chutney Company, Cresson Creative, Farmers Gosden Icecream, Mr Whitehead's Cider, Chinashop Rare Breed and Rother Valley Organics meats, to name a few.

Producers are also entering the Watercress Food Awards, whose judges include BBC Good Food magazine editor Gillian Carter, to create innovative watercress dishes which last year included watercress chocolates and beer!

Pick up your own free bag of watercress from The Watercress Alliance stand.

Tomorrow's chefs can join one of the watercress children's cookery workshops. Classes cost £12 and run between 11.30am and 12.30pm, and 1.30 to 2.30pm.

To book, call 020 7371 8100. Join free one-hour tours around Alresford's watercress farms, at Manor Farm, The Brook, at 11.30am and 1.30pm (call 01929 463241 to book), and at noon and 2pm on Pinglestone Farm, Abbotstone Road (01264 732022).

Try imaginative watercress menus at Alresford's pubs, restaurants and tea shops, and see just why Alresford is known as the UK's capital of watercress.

The festival programme also includes karaoke sessions with TV presenter Keith Chegwin, street and children's entertainment, live music and juggling displays, all free!

The event takes place in Broad Street, between 10am and 4pm.

The Watercress Festival is organised by The Watercress Alliance (Vitacress Salads, Alresford Salads and The Watercress Company), New Alresford Town Council, Alresford Chamber of Commerce, Hampshire Fare, Winchester City Council, and a host of other community groups. For more information visit www.watercress.co.uk