Brighten up those long, dark winter evenings with this delicious gnocchi with pancetta and watercress recipe or take a look at this season’s recipes for other mouth-watering and warming dishes. Watercress - the ‘original’ superfood - is brimming with essential vitamins and useful antioxidants, helping our body to banish harmful toxins and keep colds and flu at bay.

2008 is a special year for watercress as it marks the 200th year since William Bradbury opened the very first UK watercress farm in 1808 at Springhead, Northfleet in Kent.  To mark our bi-centenary, The Watercress Alliance has produced a commemorative anniversary book, packed with over 30 delicious recipes, history, facts and folklore. It also includes five exclusive recipes and a foreword from watercress fan and celebrity chef, Antony Worrall Thompson. For more information and to order your copy click here.

The results of the latest cancer research project funded by The Watercress Alliance are due to be released summer 2009. Conducted by The University of Southampton, the study aims to investigate the anti-cancer properties of watercress in relation to breast cancer. In 2007 scientists at the University of Ulster revealed that eating watercress daily can significantly reduce DNA damage to blood cells, which is considered to be an important trigger in the development of cancer

This month we are giving away 20 copies of our 200th anniversary book featuring recipes from Antony Worrall Thompson, watercress history, facts and folklore.