Event
News

Farming and rural heritage remains strong at Newark

NEWARK & Nottinghamshire County Show (8 and 9 May 2010) provides all-round family entertainment and underlines the strong farming and countryside heritage associated with traditional agricultural shows.

Playing a prominent role in and around the 26 rings and display areas will be the many livestock classes – including beef cattle, dairy cows, sheep and pigs – plus the Brackenhurst sheep shearing demonstration which takes place in the dedicated Countryside Area.

No county show would be the same without the Cattle Parade (Sunday) and heavy horses – the latter having breed show classes, trade and agricultural turnout classes and a return of horse-drawn ploughing – introduced for the first time last year.

Also returning since its inception in 2009 will be the Red Poll Society Annual Breed Show and Calf Show with Young Handler classes judged by Mr B Hayward (Sunday). Young Handler classes are included across all livestock sections and are highly competitive – showcasing the enthusiasm and dedication of our next generation of farmers.

The first major event in the 2010 county show calendar, Newark offers some of the best facilities for exhibitors and spectators. It also boasts an enviable collection of trophies, championships and special awards.

Full programme
Equine enthusiasts will enjoy a full programme of In-Hand and Ridden classes taking place in the seven horse show rings. Total prize money approaching an incredible £19,000 is on offer in the Newark Ring, which hosts two full days of top-class show jumping and culminates in the Sir John Eastwood Foundation-sponsored Mattie Brown Stakes.

Main Ring attractions include the return of the death-defying Bolddog Lings Motorcycle Display Team and the fast and furious Mounted Games Association competition. Perennial favourite, the Parade of Hounds, will feature the Blankney Hunt on Saturday and Grove & Rufford Hunt on Sunday.

Vintage vehicles (Saturday), military vehicles and steam engines will evoke memories of past times, while history comes alive with the Regia Anglorum (Kingdoms of the English) Living Saxon Encampment.

Parking is free with a dedicated area for disabled visitors (first come, first served) or take the bus! The Advertiser Group Newspapers and Newark Town Council will be providing a regular free bus service from Newark to the showground each day beginning at 9am and running every hour from Newark Bus Station with hourly return trips starting just after midday.

WIN free tickets to Newark & Nottinghamshire County Show >>

Leading suppliers at Precision Farming

Brown & Co auctioneer Simon Wearmouth in action at Walsingham. Photo: Brown & Co

VISITORS to the forthcoming Precision Farming Event have a chance to win a year’s free use of a Yara N-Sensor simply by registering and purchasing a pre-paid ticket for the show.
This year's event will be held on Wednesday 10 March at the East of England Showground, Peterborough.

Alongside the exhibition featuring the latest electronic advances from the UK's leading suppliers, visitors will also be able to see equipment at work in the outside demonstration area.

There is also a full seminar programme, which will provide unrivalled information on a range of subjects, including controlled traffic farming (CTF); yield and moisture monitoring on forage harvesters; results from trials to assess the true costs and benefits of using auto-steer; as well as ISObus in operation and how the Yara N-Sensor targets inputs to match the requirements of the growing crops.

Visitors attending seminars will be eligible for NRoSO and BASIS points.

Event organiser, Andy Newbold, said: “The Precision Farming Event is a unique exhibition that brings together the leading suppliers and service providers in the industry. The format is designed to help visitors access expert information as well as have the opportunity to speak to all the leading suppliers – all in one place.”

Faith in the countryside – 20 years on

A MAJOR conference later this year will bring together leading thinkers on rural economies, planning, policy and mission to explore the sustainability of rural communities and their churches.

Faith and the Future of the Countryside – 2010 will also mark 20 years from the publication of Faith in the Countryside, the seminal report of the Archbishop’s Commission on Rural Areas chaired by Lord Prior. Four conference themes of rural communities, economy, environment and rural church reflect the breadth of issues covered in the original report.

Keynote speakers

Four keynote speakers will include Professor Michael Winter, Director of the Centre for Rural Policy Research, University of Exeter, and Professor Mark Shucksmith, Professor of Planning at the University of Newcastle. The keynote addresses will be backed up by 20 seminars on the four themes of rural communities, economy, environment and rural church and a range of poster sessions.

Faith and the Future of the Countryside – 2010, organised by the Church of England’s Mission and Public Affairs Division, will be held from 3-5 November 2010 at The Hayes, Swanwick, Derbyshire.

Details and a booking form are available at www.rural20.org or from: Faith and the Future of the Countryside Conference, The Arthur Rank Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2LG, email katrinas@rase.org.uk or tel: 0247 685 3075

• For more event news see Wrights Farming Register every month

Events Diary

10 MARCH
Precision Farming
East of England Showground
Contact: 0845 490 0142
www.farm-smart.co.uk

17 MARCH
Annual Sale of Grazing and Mowing Grass
Kilworth Springs Golf Club, North Kilworth, Leics
Contact: 07713 651039/01788 564694
www.howkinsandharrison.co.uk

20-21 MARCH
Shire Horse Society Spring Show
East of England Showground, Peterborough
Contact: 0845 600 5445
www.showground.org.uk

30 MARCH
Agricultural Buildings Show
NAC Stoneleigh
Contact: 0845 490 0142
www.farm-smart.co.uk

* It is advisable to telephone beforehand if you have to travel a long distance.

Have an Event?

If you have any dates for our Events Diary, please email them to:

Or send them to: Janet Richardson, Wrights Farming Register, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs. LN9 6LZ