Smallholder show's bloomin' brilliant! (From Smallholder)

Smallholder show's bloomin' brilliant!

3:53pm Wednesday 25th March 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share

The annual Smallholder and Garden Festival held by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society "opens the gates to summer in Wales."

So says the festival’s director Dr Fred Slater, who added: "With the intention of giving everyone a break from the general economic gloom, this year’s event has all the elements our regular visitors have come to expect.

"Each year the festival has more to offer the public and they have shown their approval by coming in ever greater numbers." On May 16 and 17 the Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, showground will play host to floral and food halls, vintage machinery displays, rare and traditional breeds of cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, woodland craft and farming demonstrations, llamas, alpacas, bees, pets, poultry, farm machinery and equipment auctions.

Among other attractions is a green horizons exhibition that focuses on how to make better use of natural resources, save energy and reduce the carbon footprint.

There’s also a folk dance festival and a premier open dog show with more than 1,000 entries, which this year has acquired the status of a qualifying event for Crufts, the world’s largest dog show.

Also attending is Smallholder magazine’s promotions team, with current and back issues of the popular national publication on sale.

Published by Newsquest, the magazine features news, views and expert advice for smallholders, market gardeners, animal and poultry keepers.

Editor Liz Wright, who is a smallholder and bee keeper, said: "We are pleased to be there for what has become a must see show for smallholders the length and breadth of Britain."

Creative and locally-produced food and drink will be sold by Farmers' Markets and a variety of crafts, flowers, shrubs and vegetables will be on offer among the 200 trade stands.

The festival runs between 9am and 6pm on both days and there is special entertainment for children. Admission is £10 for adults, £3 for children aged between five and 16 years, with under 5s admitted free.

Weekend caravanning and camping pitches are £30 per pitch, while parking is free.

To pre-book tickets or pitches visit rwas.co.uk/en/garden-festival/tickets-camping, call 01982 554414 or e-mail dee@rwas.co.uk.

Smallholder magazine publishes 13 issues a year and is available from newsagents or on subscription by clicking on smallholder.co.uk/subscribe or calling 01823 365203.

• Print
• Email
• Share