MAR 11, 2014: Don’t miss the comprehensive 2014 Show Guide in the April issue of Country Smallholding. We cover numerous rural shows and events, with a special feature section on some of them. The big one is the 2014 Royal Welsh Spring Festival, the UK’s biggest dedicated smallholder event.
MAR 11, 2014: Don’t miss the comprehensive 2014 Show Guide in the April issue of Country Smallholding. We cover numerous rural shows and events, with a special feature section on some of them. The big one is the 2014 Royal Welsh Spring Festival, the UK’s biggest dedicated smallholder event.If there is one event you shouldn’t miss this year, it is the big one – The Royal Welsh Spring Festival at Builth Wells in Wales. This is the largest dedicated event for smallholding, gardening and sustainable living in the UK and more than 24,000 people are expected at this year’s event from May 17-18. There will be a fantastic array of attractions, including exciting arena events, more than 2,000 livestock competing in a wide range of events, a Green Horizons sustainable living exhibition, a vintage machinery display, a premier open dog show, a folk dance festival and lots more. Country Smallholding will have a team and a stand at the show and readers are welcome to meet the Editor and talk to writers Liz Shankland and ‘Rookies’ Adam Willcox and Andy Richards. We will be in the busy South Glamorgan Exhibition Centre at the heart of the show. This is a festival which celebrates rural life in a practical but enjoyable way, in one of the most picturesque areas of Wales. It is a hive of activity, offering the perfect day out for all, whatever your interest or passion. There will be a wide range of features in the main arena, including the exciting Kangaroo Kids with their daring antics and a gundog display organised by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation. From pigs to poultry and horses to cattle, livestock will have pride of place in this huge show, and farmers and smallholders will be competing with each other for the top honours. New this year will be a Greyface Dartmoor section, and Welsh Hill Speckled Face sheep will be shown in full fleece. The British Pig Association will hold a round of the Junior Pig of the Year Competition, Pairs and Progeny classes will be introduced and the Dairy Goats section will hold a ‘Back to Back’ Show over the two days. A Forestry and Woodland section will also be introduced and feature a chainsaw carving competition. Whether you are interested in farriery, vintage machinery, a lambing workshop, woodland crafts, showjumping, an auction of poultry, equipment and collectables, organics, allotments or starting in pig keeping, there is an expert or demonstration for you. There will also be a Getting Started information desk. There will be displays in the Floral Hall together with a wide range of garden, agricultural, food and craft stands. Visitors can also listen to talks and participate in question and answer sessions on smallholding, horticultural, environmental and countryside issues. The Green Horizons Sustainable Living Exhibition has been a festival highlight since it was first started in 2006. It is a heady mix of trade stands, demonstrations, family workshops and green-themed entertainment. The farmers’ markets in Wales will once again be brimming with producers offering a sumptuous selection of delicious foods to buy, eat and drink. The focus is firmly on artisan produce from small independent producers. Although the festival is a national event, the food producers are mainly from Wales and the border counties. MORE and TICKETS: Visit the festival website www.rwas.co.uk/spring-festival or call 01982 553683.Photo: There will be prizes galore in numerous categories
