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THE first Wiltshire Festival of Native and Traditional Breeds is being held at Brinkworth House on Saturday, August 30.

Down in deepest Wiltshire, the brainchild of three members of the Wiltshire Support Group and council members - Tony Chambers, Pat Holloway and newly co-opted, Ken Cooper, is taking off at a rate which has exceeded even their most optimistic expectations.

Led by chairman, Ken Cooper, the idea of a Festival of Native and Traditional Breeds originated from the group's collective recognition of the need to increase awareness of the RBST, Breed Societies and the Wiltshire Support Group, whilst, simultaneously, raising the profile of those animals and poultry identified on the "watch list".

Whilst the event is the first Wiltshire has held, it will be associated with an established event - Brinkworth Show. For over ten years Ken has chaired the committee of the Brinkworth Show and during this time the show has grown into a well-established one-day agricultural event with over 10,000 people in attendance on the same weekend last year.

On stepping down from the chairmanship, Ken recognised the opportunities, which existed to utilise the infrastructure (marquees, arenas, etc) already in place for the Brinkworth Show in the following day. The festival will run entirely separately from the Sunday Show and will primarily be seen as an opportunity to display RBST animals, hoping to build on the success at the Blenheim Horse Trials.

In addition to the display it is intended to hold a parade, arrange demonstrations and technical presentations on the uses of native and traditional breeds. It is anticipated that the festival will link with the Year of Farming and Food and increase the involvement of the younger generation by participation and education.

Ken's tenacity has resulted in extensive media interest from such nationally recognised outlets as BBC's Country file and The Smallholder magazine. An astounding 85% of stands exhibiting at the Brinkworth Show on the Sunday have agreed to be present at the Festival.

Currently sponsors still remain elusive and the group have arranged a sponsors event to be held at Brinkworth House on Friday, May 30 at 12.30pm. Anyone requiring further information can contact Ken Cooper on 07715 496789 or Wendy Chambers on 01225 859543.

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