Rural Smallholdings Magazine

With a heatwave predicted for this weekend, here’s a round up of smallholding, farming, gardening and outdoor events across the country to enjoy in the sunshine.

Devon County Show – taking place from Thursday to Saturday (20th-22nd May) in Westpoint, Exeter the Devon County Show promises a great day out for all the family. Traditional attractions include magnificent livestock, wonderful food and drink, inspiring flower and garden displays, marvellous crafts, stalls offering a wealth of goods, and lots of traditional entertainment in six rings.

New for this year’s show, Children’s feature FunForKidz is bursting with hands-on activity for lively youngsters; everything from planting seeds to baking bread, milking Daisy, weaving willow wands, seeing chicks hatch, watching Tractor Ted DVDs and petting Crealy’s tame animals. ‘Indulgence, fashion & lifestyle’ is a pavilion offering demonstrations and fashion shows as well as lots of trade stands.

Enjoy delicious and wholesome food: Westcountry food and drink producers bring the great taste of the countryside to the table with their affordable and tempting produce.

And for farmers and smallholders there’s livestock to see, machinery to ogle, suppliers to chat to and old faces to bump into!

There’s so much going on – don’t forget the equine competitions and dog show! Children go Free on Saturday when accompanied by an adult.

For further info on this event click here

Otley Show – running Saturday this week (22nd May) in Otley, West Yorkshire the Otley Show attracts an average 12000 visitors plus exhibitors in Cattle, Sheep, Horses, Goats, Poultry, Dogs, Rabbits, Produce, Handicrafts, Floral Art and Farriers. In excess of 100 Trade Stand Exhibitors and 40+ Craft Exhibitors also attend the show.

This year sees the 201st Show and amongst the many attractions will be Jason Smyth, with the Adrenaline Tour Stunt Show, Richard Savory with The Sheep Show, Les Dixon with his Mountgrace Gundogs and Ben Potter’s Birds of Prey.

For further info on this event click here

Althorp House Craft and Country Show – running all this weekend (22nd – 23rd May) in Althorp, Northampton entertainment will include the Horkesley Park Suffolk Punch Horse Demonstration Team, birds of prey flying displays, The Sheep Show – an educational as well as fun show, working and agility dogs, Newfoundland Dogs, as well as rural demonstrations . Arts, craft and gift marquees as well as lifestyle and food hall stands will give you the chance to sample and buy unique products.

Also on Sunday at this event, they’re proud to host the Companion Dog Show – so bring along a canine friend and have a go! (And all proceeds from entries will go to Marie Curie Cancer Care).

For further info on this event click here

RHS Chelsea Flower Show – running from this coming Tuesday to Saturday (25th – 29th May) the World’s most famous flower show should need no introduction, but we hope you have your tickets already as they are now SOLD OUT!

For further info on this event click here

NBA Beef Expo – taking place this coming Thursday (27th May) in Hexham, Northumberland Beef Expo is the National Beef Association’s annual flagship event and is held at a different venue each year with a comprehensive programme of technical, practical and livestock demonstrations, competitions, seminars, beef breed displays, trade stands and educational exhibits and a strong commercial focus.

Every corner of the available exhibition area at Hexham Mart has been taken up with live displays by 22 beef breed societies and 150 trade stands.

The theme of this year’s Beef Expo is “The Way Forward” and a special feature will be the National Spring Spectacular Show of cattle which proved a major success at last year’s event at the Three Counties Showground and has this year attracted an entry of 110 cattle from 35 exhibitors, as well as 13 entries in the young handlers’ section. The show will be judged by leading Scottish beef cattle producer, Archie McGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, Glasgow.

For further info on this event click here

The Hay Festival – taking place next week from Thursday to the following 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.

For further info on this event click here

Ballymena Show – running Friday and Saturday next week (28th – 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.

For further info on this event click here

SWHP Bluebell Dog Walk – taking place this Sunday (23rd May) and starting at Trostry Lodge, Bettws Newydd, Usk The Society For The Welfare of Horses and Ponies invites you and your dog or doggies to a dog walk. Registration 2.30 for 3 p.m. the walk starts at Trostry Lodge, Bettws Newydd, Near Clytha Park just off old A40 Raglan to Abergavenny Road. £5 per dog to include gorgeous rosette, teas and refreshments also available. All funds go to the SWHP a registered charity.

For further info on this event click here

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Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine