THERE are a host of reasons for Worcestershire residents to head to the Cotswolds this summer but none more so that the magical mix of music and food.

Over the August Bank Holiday some of the top names in British and international cookery, including Jamie Oliver, Gennaro Contaldo, Mark Hix, Nathan Outlaw, Monica Galetti, Raymond Blanc and many others, will be demonstrating their culinary skills at this year’s Big Feastival.

To make it a fun packed weekend music acts like Flyte, Dizzee Rascal, Palomo Faith, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Badly Drawn Boy are in the long line-up at the event on the farm of former Blur musician Alex James in Kingham, near Chipping Norton.

The event will run from Friday August 29 through to Sunday August 30 and up to 30,000 people are expects to go along over the three days.

New this year is the Healthy Living Zone which is dedicated to healthy eating and wellbeing. There be special talks and health food tutorials, while there will be a full programme of activities in the Action Station.

Feastival-goers can recharge their batteries with foodie fare from the Health Hub, serving everything from freshly pressed juices to raw food salads. Youngsters can learn where their food comes from and there will be advice on natural skin and hair products.

There will also be a range of free from gluten, grain, diary and refined sugar products and recipes available.

Youngsters will head for the Little Dudes Den which will be bursting with fun and games, as well as market stalls handpicked for little ones. There will be something for every dude and dudette - from festival fare to fancy dress.

Children can also get involved in bread making from harvesting the grain to milling and baking, while there will also be cupcake decorating classes.

Young festival-goers can also try yoga moves, listen to storytelling and take part in jam sessions and dance lessons from around the world. There will also be some cute animals to cuddle like rabbits, chicks, lambs and piglets, while kiddies can become their favourite animal with a bit of face painting.

The Big Feastival is raising funds for the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation which aims to shape the health and wellbeing of current and future generations and contribute to a healthier world, by providing better access to food education for everyone.

The foundation has three flagship projects – Grow it. Cook it. Love it. This aims to try and combat obesity in children by teaching children about food, where it comes form, how to cook it and how it affects their bodies.

Jamie Oliver said: “If we can get gardens, school food and the curriculum working together, we’ve got a really potent catalyst for change.”

Another programme is Using the Magic of Food to Transform Lives, where the Fifteen restaurant recruits 18 apprentices aged from 18 to 25 and trains them to become professional chefs

Jamie Oliver said: ““I set up Fifteen because I believe young people have untapped talents that are often hidden by problems in their home lives. These talents can be freed by a passion for good food and meaningful hard work.”

The last programme is Keeping Cooking Skills Alive. Jamie Oliver’s trained Ministry of Food teachers inspire thousands of people to cook from scratch every year in centres and through Outreach Programmes across the UK.

“Whether someone is a complete beginner or a good cook who likes simplicity, Ministry of Food is about inspiring people to get in the kitchen and cook from scratch. With some basic skills and a handful of recipes, tasty, nutritious meals can be prepared on any budget,” he said.