The Hop Pocket Mediaeval Festival TO CELEBRATE THE HOP POCKET MEDIAEVAL FESTIVAL WE HAVE TWO HAMPERS TO BE WON IN OUR COMPETITION IN THIS WEEK'S LUDLOW & TENBURY WELLS ADVERTISER - EDITION DATED 16TH AUGUST. WHY NOT ENTER? THE WINNER COULD BE YOU!

With its craft shop, retail village and restaurant, the Hop Pocket Craft Centre, just off the A4103 Hereford to Worcester road at Bishop's Frome, has always offered its visitors a great day out. However, on Saturday, 18th and Sunday 19th of August a day out at the Hop Pocket will be even better, because in addition to all its other attractions, it is holding a two day mediaeval festival.

The event is the brainchild of Ken " The Roving Pieman" Woods, who not only has a shop at the craft centre where he sells his traditional, homemade pies, breads, cakes and jams, but regularly participates in similar festivals all over the Country.

"With its surrounding orchards and fields, the Hop Pocket is an ideal venue for a fixture like this" he told me. "There' be plenty of parking and visitors will have the opportunity to wander around both the festival and the craft centre and shops."

Indeed with its wide selection of exciting attractions the festival promises to be a great day out, with its living history display giving people the chance to experience many of the sights and sounds of days gone by. And in addition to ongoing performances of mediaeval music and dance, historical traders will be on hand to tempt those in need of retail therapy with realistic reproductions of costumes, jewellery and other interesting wares! There will be regular archery displays showing why the English longbow was such an effective and feared weapon and demonstrations of 14th century falconry, giving both a fascinating insight into this skilful, mediaeval sport and a chance to meet some of its beautiful, feathered participants!

But no historic festival would be complete without some authentic, traditional food and as well as a delicious hog roast, visitors to the Hop Pocket festival will also be able to enjoy The Roving Pieman's tasty wares. However, the gastronomic treats don't stop there because the craft centre's off- licence stocks an amazing selection of ales, ciders and wines which should be more than enough to quench the thirst of anyone looking for liquid refreshment!

Towards the end of each afternoon, in a dazzling grand finale to the day's proceedings, the area will resound to the noise of hand to hand combat. Knights in armour, pikemen and foot soldiers re-enactment of a spectacular re-enactment of a typical battle of the Wars of the Roses, bring the event to an unforgettable close.

Not only does this exciting festival promise to be a great deal of fun, it also sounds like an event that shouldn't be missed.