Rural Smallholdings Magazine

With the sun shining and the show season now in full swing here’s a round up of smallholding, farming, gardening and outdoor events across the country to enjoy this week.

Cheshire County Show – taking place today and tomorrow (22nd – 23rd June) in Knutsford, Cheshire the Cheshire County Show is a chance to celebrate and experience all that is great and good about the countryside. There are competition classes for cattle, sheeps, goats, pigs and rare breed livestock and equines from Shires to Shetlands. For Poultry enthusiasts the poultry section takes place on Tuesday only and pigeons, rabbits and cavies aplenty can be found on the Wednesday only as they compete in the many classes held at the show. The prestigious Cheshire Show Dog section attracts over 2000 entries from across a vast array of breeds. Tuesday sees classes for Non-Sporting Breeds only, whilst Wednesday is Sporting Breed classes only.

Other attractions at the show include: The Roberts Bakery Food Halls bring together local, regional and national producers and purveyors of fine food and drink to suit everyone’s tastes, whilst the Roberts Bakery Food Live Theatre enables visitors to enjoy some tremendous food edu-tainment from local Cheshire chefs and college students, at the Cheese and Wine marquee visitors can experience the delights of cheese and wine produced locally and beyond, the Rural Life area includes the WI marquee with hundreds of entries to the many classes of craft ranging from cake making, floral art, produce making through to art and photography and much more, the Vintage Machinery section re-counts a bygone era with an extensive display of tractors, agricultural machinery, stationary engines, cars and commercial vehicles of yesteryear.

Country pursuits and traditional crafts come to life it the Countryside Experience Area. From falconry demonstrations, have ago Clay Shoot and Archery, to fly-fishing demonstrations and parades of hounds, it’s a real haven for country lovers. The Main Ring attractions include the Bolddog Freestyle Motorcross Team, Gauntlet Birds of Prey and Meirion Owen’s Quack Pack.

For further info on this event click here

Lincolnshire County Show – taking place tomorrow and Thursday (23rd – 24th June) in Lincoln, the 126th Lincolnshire County Show has a variety of attractions including: The Select Lincolnshire and Tastes of Lincolnshire Food Court, Show Jumping Classes in the Clydesdale Bank Main Ring, an action packed sports area, live entertainment on the Lincs FM Stage, the Medieval Village, spectacular Grand Parade of the best of the County’s Livestock, vintage to modern day agricultural machinery display, the Carter Homes Sustainable Living Exhibition featuring interactive displays and exhibits of everything you might need to live an eco friendly lifestyle, boutique style shopping avenue, plus 600 traders around the show ground.

For further info on this event click here

Royal Highland Show – running from Thursday to Sunday this week (24th – 27th June) in Ingliston, near Edinburgh Airport the Royal Highland Show showcases the best that Scotland has to offer and a chance to indulge your love of food, farming and countryside pursuits. There is so much going on we couldn’t hope to cover it all here so please visit the website for the latest news.

For further info on this event click here

Irish Game Fair and Country Lifestyle Festival – taking place this weekend (26th – 27th June) at Shanes Castle, Antrim the Irish Game Fair and Country Lifestyle Festival is one of the two great game fairs in Ireland. Attractions include: Clay Shooting – the fair will host a heat of the All Ireland Game Fair Championships and a heat and the final of the Barbour Novice Championships on a new and extended layout beside the Castle. In addition there will be have a go air rifle, shooting games, archery and lazer shooting.

Dog Competitions – Apart from the top competitions for all breeds of gundogs including hosting heats for the All Ireland Game Fair Gundog Handling Championships and heats and the final of the Barbour Novice Hadnling Championships. There will be a gundog scurry, and main arena gundog displays including one by the Irish CLA Team captained by Willie Edgar and sponsored by Calor. The Winners of the Sunday Life Pet Idol Competition will be presented with their prizes and a special treat for all dog owners – main arena displays and an advice facility on the Irish Countrysports and Country Life stand from Keith Mathews the BBC’s famous dog whisperer. New for this year’s show is the Director’s Gundog Challenge and the Fair will host the 22nd Barbour/Irish Countrysports and Country Life All Ireland Terrier & Lurcher Championships.

There are also equine events, Angling events/exhibits, the Medieval Living History Festival, falconry, ferrets and hounds and a huge tented village of trade stands. Again we can’t hope to cover it all here so please do visit the website for more information.

For further info on this event click here.

Shropshire County Show – taking place this weekend (26th – 27th June) at the County Showground in Shrewsbury, the Shropshire County Show offers an action packed weekend. There will be exciting entertainment in the Main Ring for the whole family to enjoy. In the side rings there will be competitions judging cattle, including Hereford, sheep, pigs and equestrian events. The Countryside Arena will hold a dog show and agility display, as well as a llama show. On the showground there will be a display of classic cars and agricultural vehicles, cookery demonstrations in the cookery theatre, craft displays and much, much more.

The Shropshire Food Festival is being launched at the Show this year embracing the theme “From Gate to Plate”. Packed with an abundance of Shropshire produce on display a visit to The Festival is a must! Local suppliers of food to schools will also be at the Show with their produce being put to good use in the working school canteen that will be on display. Other attractions include: Bolddog Lings Motorcycle Display Team, the Red Devils Parachute Regiment Display Team, Grand Parade, Chef’s Table Restaurant, BBC Countryfile – all seven presenters from BBC Countryfile programme will be at the Show on Sunday 27th June to film their Summer Special programme.

For further info on this event click here

Axe Vale Festival – taking place this weekend (26th – 27th June) at the Showground in Axminster, the Axe Vale Festival has attractions including: Craft marquee, trade stands, floral marquee, food hall, antiques and collectibles, horticultural show, children’s entertainment, demonstrations, ferret racing, falconry displays, terrier racing, gundog displays, working lurcher display, live bands, and a display of paintings by the members of Axminster Art Society.

For further info on this event click here

Please always check with show organisers/websites for up to date information on these shows before travelling to events in case of incorrect details, show changes or cancellations.

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Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine