Rural Smallholdings Magazine

With a welcome return of the sunshine predicted for this weekend (it’s absolutely pouring here!), here’s a round up of smallholding, farming, gardening and outdoor events across the country to enjoy in the sunshine.

Ballymena Show – running tomorrow (29th May) in Country Antrim, Northern Ireland the Ballymena Show promises something for everyone this year with competitions for Horses, Ponies, Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Poultry and Crafts, Trade Stands with Cosmetics, Painting, Ceramics, Health Products, Baking, Jewellery, Handbags, Cars, Machinery, Garden Equipment, Books, and Horticulture. A chance to test your skills at Archery and Air Rifle Shooting while the Young Farmers have fun and games to win prize money for charity – lots of water will be involved.

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The Hays Festival – continuing all this week until Sunday (27th May to 6th June) in Hay on Wye, Wales The Hay Festival is a gathering in the staggering beauty of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Every year, around 80,000 visitors flock to Hay-on-Wye for the town’s annual literary festival. The programme of events is so packed we could never do it justice here so please do visit the website to find out more.

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Heathfield & District Agricultural Show – taking place tomorrow (29th May) in Broad Oak, Heathfield, East Sussex the Heathfield & District Agricultural Show is the premier one day agricultural show in the South East. The Show has cattle, pig, horse and sheep programmes as well as over 200 trade stands and Country Ways displays and demonstrations including Bee Keeping, Fly Dressing and Fishing, Heavy Horse Display, Hounds Display, Lace Making, Plumpton Forestry Display, Rush, Cane and Cord seating demonstrations, Saddlery, Sussex Young Farmers and many more.

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Baston & District Spring Show – taking place tomorrow (29th May) at Grimsthorpe Castle Park, Lincolnshire, the Baston & District Spring Show is a one day equestrian event taking place in the beautiful surroundings of the Castle Park. As well as the equestrian competitions there will be ‘have a go’ dog agility running all day and refreshments available.

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Cothi Bridge Show – taking place tomorrow (29th May) in Llanegwad, Carmarthenshire the Cothi Bridge Show has cattle, sheep and horse classes as well as a Ladies Section including handicrafts, preserves, cookery, floral art, photography and rural crafts sections, a children’s section and a Companion Dog Show.

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Hertfordshire County Show – taking place tomorrow and Sunday (29th – 30th May) in St Albans, Hertfordshire, the Hertfordshire County Show promises something for everyone this year with attractions to include: the Devils Horseman on Saturday and due to popular demand, The Bolddog Lings Freestyle Motorcycle Team will return on Sunday in the Grand Ring, The All Human Festival Circus,
The Royal British Legion Band, The Chiltern Vehicle Preservation Group, The Morden Hall Alpacas, Mr C O’Donnell’s Eagle & Vulture Show, The Sheep Show ( 4 performances throughout the day), Racing Herts Flyball Team, Rockwood Dog Display Team, Country Craft Displays and much much more. All childrens entertainment is free.

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Melton Mowbray Show – taking place this Bank Holiday Monday (31st May) in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, the Melton Mowbray Show promises a day packed full of attractions to include: the famous Gardening Question Time Roadshow, Quack Pack Sheepdog display, Ridgeside Falconry display, Llama racing, Royal Artillery Flying Gunners Motorcycle Display Team, Rockin Horse ‘Orc’ Show, the biggest Motor Show ever, trade and charity exhibits and much more.

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Northumberland County Show – taking place this Bank Holiday Monday (31st May) in Tyndale Park, Corbridge, the Northumberland County Show is expected to attract 25,000 visitors this year with attractions including: Showing Classes for Cattle, Sheep, Light Horses, Heavy Horses, Goats, Alpacas, Shearing, KC Dogs, Poultry, Rabbits, Stick dressing, Competitive Home Crafts, Cumberland & Westmorland Wrestling, The Journal ‘TASTE’ event with top North East Chefs, 300 Trade Stands – from large Agricultural Machinery, to delicate crafts, Falconry Display and static displays, Grand Parade of Livestock, Spectacular Main Arena IMPS Motorcycle Display Team, Full working Milking Parlour, Horse Shoeing Demonstration, Live Music, Irish Dancers, Meet the Hounds, Beekeeping demonstration, Funfair, Stick dressing and hedgelaying demonstrations, RAF Battle Of Britain Memorial Fly Past featuring the Spitfire, the show promises something for everyone.

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Surrey County Show – taking place this Bank Holiday Monday (31st May) in Stoke Park, Guildford, the Surrey County Show is the largest one day agricultural show in the UK attracting up to 40,000 visitors. First and foremost, Surrey County Show celebrates farming. So come and see the pick of the crop, the cream of the herd, the pride of the flock, beautifully presented and in hot competition for rosettes and trophies. Some of the farmers have been competing at Surrey County Show for more than half a century – a magnificent tradition of pride in quality animal husbandry. Come to the show and become a part of the Surrey farming experience.

Other attractions include: The daring aerial stunts of the Bolddog Lings Freestyle Team, Pony Club Games, Osborne Refrigerator Scurry Driving Classes return again this year with teams of ponies galloping round a challenging obstacle course, NEW for 2010 is the Pig Racing Championships, complementing Surrey’s increasingly popular Pig showing classes, Gamegoer Working Dog and Hawk Display, Huxley Experience Falconry display, the great Cattle Parade, the spectacular Hot Air Balloon Challenge (weather permitting) will lift off at the end of the finale in the grand arena.

The Countryside Arena will feature the Huxley Experience Falconry Display, and fly-fishing as well as working dogs and hawks and pig racing followed by the Battersea Dogs Home Companion Dog Show. At the Food Theatre and Surrey Food Festival, visitors can not only find out about growing their own vegetables but also explore the harvest of the deep! Pigs of all shapes and sizes are enjoying an exciting comeback at Surrey for the Smallholder Pig Event. There is so much going on we cannot do it justice here so please do visit the website to find out more.

For further info on this event click here

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Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine