Shows
Show for good life fans set for May
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| EVERYTHING SHEEPSHAPE: The sheep showing class gets under way at a previous show |
SMALLHOLDERS and country enthusiasts from all over Britain will be coming together on the weekend of May 17-18 at the RWAS Showground, Builth Wells, Wales, for the now eagerly awaited annual Royal Welsh Smallholder and Garden Festival.
The nationally available Smallholder magazine, published by Newsquest from its offices in Cornwall, started the show in the 1990s at a small venue but it grew quickly and eventually moved to the showground in Builth Wells.
Smallholder magazine handed over the reins for the show to the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society in 2001 who have added many attractions each year.
For 2008, all the much-loved events will be staged, including smallholding stalls and information centres, the stunning pig display, pygmy, dairy and fibre goat shows, alpacas, cattle and a successful sheep show.
The Farmers' Market in Wales has more stalls, selling the best of locally produced food from wine to cheese, meat to honey and much more.
Bee keeping is also on display. The Open Dog Show brings together the best examples of dog breeds while the Vintage Machinery has expanded with a big display of tractors and farm equipment.
There will be an auction of vintage tractors, implements, literature and other collectibles on the Saturday.
Serious smallholders will find the programme of free talks, such as "how to get started in smallholding", invaluable and the Property Roadshow will feature numerous examples of smallholdings for sale.
There is also an auction of general smallholding equipment such as poultry houses, tack and fencing plus live poultry on the Saturday.
Meanwhile, Smallholder magazine, a sister title of South West Farmer, is sponsoring the Invention Competition for a successive year.
Two categories - for "complex" and "simple inventions" - draw entries nationwide where innovative smallholders and farmers share their solutions in the hope of winning a cash prize and glory!
New for this year is the Smallholder Pentathlon Competition - not traditional sporting events but five typical smallholder tasks devised by the judges.
Horticulture and floristry is very important and the Garden Festival has prize-winning floral arrangements, garden trade stands and, on the Sunday, a "Gardening Question Time" with well-known television presenters.
An extensive woodland area covers growing, maintaining and using forestry. Craft demonstrations, such as wood turning, will also be featured.
New events for 2008 include the Celtic Dance Festival, with groups offering workshops and displays from the UK, Eire and France.
Green issues are on the agenda and the Green Horizons Festival has been developed to offer practical advice on a more sustainable way of life.
But it's about fun too, and there is a "Village Green" where children can safely play which features entertainment and games plus a petting zoo.
The main ring has the ever-popular Meirion Owen's Quack Pack - with his sheep ducks! A colourful Elizabethan Hawking Party is also new for 2008.
Many useful and entertaining trade stands mean that visitors can explore their dreams and make their ideas work for them at home.
And Smallholder magazine will also be there with the current issue and the opportunity to purchase back issues so that you don't miss any of the help, advice and information packed into every single copy.
You can buy Smallholder magazine at leading newsagents or on subscription by clicking on www.smallholder.co.uk/subscribe or by calling 01823 365203.
Liz Wright, Smallholder's editor and a working smallholder and bee keeper in rural Cambridgeshire, will be on hand to meet readers.
Visit www.rwas.co.uk or call 08445 450532 for further information and tickets or click on www.smallholder.co.uk for details of the show and Smallholder magazine.
Tickets: Adults - £8; Senior Citizen (60+) - £7; Children (5-16 years of age) - £3
Children 4 years old and under - free; Family 1 Day Ticket - £20; Family 2 Day Ticket - £35 (two adults and up to three children); Weekend caravanning and camping from 12 noon, 16 May 16, to 12 noon, May 19 - £25 per pitch. Parking is free.
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