A programme of improvements for this year’s Burwarton Show is ahead of schedule.
Work is currently underway to improve accessibility for traders and visitors, in case of wet weather, at the hugely popular show on Thursday, August 5.
A large number of new agricultural exhibitors have also come forward for this year’s show, with the food hall, shopping arcade and craft demonstrations areas well over-subscribed.
The conservation area is being reorganised to include advisory displays on various aspects of conservation, agri-environment and grants available to farmers and smallholders.
The area will also include stick makers, corn dolly and straw craft, ironwork, firewood processing machinery, basketry, fly casting demonstrations, Greenwood Trust demonstrations and ferret racing.
A show spokesperson said: “New classes have been included in the sheep section aimed at encouraging commercial breeders. There are many pure sheep flocks in the area that are not registered or in the maedi visna scheme.
“These classes are designed to cater for these flocks, giving breeders an opportunity to exhibit untrimmed rams and females for the first time at Burwarton.
“Two new classes have also been added to the commercial beef section – again with the aim of encouraging commercial breeders.”
Young farmers now have a class for steers or heifers of any age and local exhibitors from within a radius of 12 miles of the showground also have their own class.
Livestock chairman Petter Kirton said: “We have man first class beef cattle locally but some farmers are shy of competing with the professionals, and we open this local class will attract them to the show.”
The historically well supported horse and pony section will include new classes for race horses to riding horses, hand horse agility and additional affiliated showjumping classes, along with all the normal classes. Seven working rings will be up and running in the horse field.
The main ring entertainment will include performances by the Band of the Scots Guards by permission of Colonel A D Matthewson OBE, the Regimental Lieutenant Colonel.
In addition, Bob Hogg will entertain adults and children with his working sheep dogs and Paxo the chicken.
Ludlow Hunt Pony Club put on their musical ride at 6pm and the Whitchurch dog display team is performing later in the afternoon.
For more information call the show manager on (01746) 787535 or visit www.burwartonshow.co.uk