Devon County Show opened its gates on the first day to huge crowds who flocked to enjoy the very best that the county has to offer.
HRH The Countess of Wessex, President of the Devon County Agricultural Association which runs the Show, spent a busy day presenting awards, watching events and demonstrations by sheep shearers and blacksmiths as well as meeting many of the Show’s army of volunteers.
She even sampled a new beer brewed specially in her honour, Sophie’s Ale, in the Show’s very own beer festival, the Contented Cow.
HRH The Queen is undoubtedly the most famous horse owner to compete at this year’s Devon County Show taking place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (May 18-20) at Westpoint, Exeter.
The Queen is entering a Highland pony and a Riding Horse in two classes within a packed equine programme which starts at 7am on Thursday morning.
The Show also has judging royalty including Mary Low MBE, a former international event rider, who will be judging on Thursday and former jockey Joe Tizzard.
Mary Lowe (then Mary Gordon-Watson) represented the winning British eventing team for...
The 122nd Devon County Show will take place shortly at Westpoint, Exeter on May 18, 19 and 20.
More than 90,000 visitors are expected to see some of the best livestock, taste fabulous local food and drink, experience country life and enjoy a wealth of entertainment.
Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex will spend two days at the Show in her role as President of the Devon County Agricultural Association (DCAA), which stages the county’s most popular annual event.
The Show features competition between exhibitors of dozens of different breeds of dozens of species...
The enormous food and drink pavilion at the Devon County Show held on May 18-20 at Westpoint, Exeter is the largest yet.
Measuring a colossal 105 metres by 25 metres, it is 10 metres longer than last year and will house even more artisan producers, a seating area and a cookery demonstration theatre.
Ollie Allen Show Secretary said: “We are responding to the ever-growing interest in local food and drink and are filling the pavilion with even more of a local flavour including a new eatery where visitors can sit and enjoy the food and drink they’ve bought in the pavilion. So a...
Local artisans and talented crafts people are coming together to exhibit at the Devon County Show on May 18, 19 and 20 held at Westpoint, Exeter.
A collection of soap makers, leather workers, jewellers, artists, candle makers and many others will be setting up shop in a canvas marquee which would easily cover a premier league football pitch.
The Crafts and Gardens feature is nearly 12,000 square metres and will highlight the popularity of hand-made items, often using centuries-old techniques.
Emma Rhodes of Emma’s Soaps from Strete in South Devon was inspired to...
Private Bill Herd was a 25-year-old father-of- two from Exeter when he left his job as a Carter to join the Devonshire Regiment in 1914. He was killed in action four years later at Bapaume, France.
Bill was one of 11,500 Devon men and women who died in the First World War and will be remembered as part of an extraordinary ‘people’s tribute’ staged at the Devon County Show on May 18, 19 and 20 at Westpoint, Exeter.
Six months ago the Show appealed to local people to make a poppy in memory of those who had lost their lives and was stunned to receive just under 31,000 poppies...
Rural commentator Anthony Gibson predicts farmers will turnout in exceptionally high numbers at the Devon County Show held on May 18-20 at Westpoint, Exeter. Mr Gibson OBE, an adviser to the Devon County Show, Director of the Royal Bath & West and formerly NFU South West Regional Director, said uncertain times triggered by Brexit would attract the farming community. He said: “I think we could see a record turnout of farmers in modern times - partly because of all of that, partly because everyone’s either up together or ahead of the game with their farm work, thanks to the wonderfully...
HRH The Countess of Wessex will spend two days at the 122nd Devon County Show next month, it was announced yesterday (Thursday). The Countess is President of the Devon County Agricultural Association, which stages the Devon County Show. Show Secretary, Ollie Allen, speaking at the launch of the Show held at Southernhay House, Exeter, said Her Royal Highness was looking forward to being part of ‘this incredible celebration of what makes Devon such a wonderful place to live and work’. “I am sure Her Royal Highness will enjoy going around the showground and will appreciate the the wealth of...
Dog owners are being warned to keep their pets under control in the countryside as the cost of insurance claims from livestock worrying has reached a record level.
New figures show the cost of dog attacks on livestock reported to leading rural insurer NFU Mutual rose by nearly 50 per cent across the UK in 2016.
Between January and April, when pregnant ewes and lambs are often grazing on low-lying pasture in areas more accessible to walkers, the cost of claims more than doubled.
With many families expected to visit the countryside during half-term and the Easter...
The Prince of Wales has praised the work of University of Exeter experts to help support small family farms.
His Royal Highness has said he hopes recommendations by Professor Michael Winter and Professor Matt Lobley and their team, to help ensure a smooth succession between different generations of farmers, are taken up.
The Prince singled out their recent research in his regular birthday message to the countryside in Country Life magazine and said it was fascinating reading.
Their study was commissioned by The Prince’s Countryside Fund and published earlier this...
