EVESHAM artist Michael Barnard has put pen to paper to preserve his memories of a rural area of town that could be developed.

His picture is of a rural idyll in the middle ages, when monks from the abbey, seen in the distance, would harvest their crops from the nearby fields.

Mr Barnard, of Badsey said: "Falling in love with this part of Evesham as an eight year old lad, some 80 years ago while on my way down Boat Lane towards The Ferry, the thought now of this part of town being built on is very upsetting.

"This sacred ground should be preserved for all time; to build on it would shatter the whole meaning of Evesham."