News : Roundswell & Sticklepath

The family adventure of the year.

The Devon County Show in May promises visitors a giant slab of Devon life and entertainment. The 113th Show held at Westpoint near Exeter, on May 15-17, is a unique celebration of what makes the county such a great place to live and work.

This year there’ll be new trails around the Show for children, as part of the Year of Food and Farming – a great campaign to help youngsters find out more about the countryside and where their food comes from.

Show Secretary Ollie Allen said the Show offered an opportunity to reconnect youngsters to the countryside, instilling in them a life-long appreciation for their food and the way it is produced. “The Year of Food and Farming is an exciting and high profile campaign to help our young people find out more about where their food comes from through first-hand experiences,” she said. “We enthusiastically support this campaign and are looking forward to welcoming pupils who will have the opportunity to directly follow the story of field to plate and explore the importance of eating healthy food.”

The Show is looking forward to welcoming tens of thousands of guests - including HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. The Duchess is this year’s Show President and enjoyed a very successful visit three years ago with HRH The Prince of Wales, who is also the Show’s Patron.

Ollie Allen added: “We are honoured and delighted that our President has chosen to attend the Show. We are very much looking forward to introducing her to some of the very many people who come together in May to give us an insight into their rural life whether that’s breeding livestock, lace-making or making cheese!”

Among the special attractions this year are the best Jersey cattle in the country thanks to the World Jersey Cattle Bureau which is staging a UK Pre-Conference Show. Delegates from around the world are expected to attend.

Edward Morgan, chairman of the UK Jersey Cattle Society, said: “Jerseys are renowned for the quality of their milk, nowhere better than in Devon with its cream teas and ice-cream, and they are recognised by the wider public as particularly attractive animals. They’ll join the magnificent livestock which will include many traditional local breeds including Ruby Red beef cattle and Devon & Cornwall Longwool sheep.”

Show Secretary Ollie Allen said: “Our Show is a unique blend of food, farming, flowers and entertainment and is a carefully crafted, virtual ‘taste, try and buy’ catalogue ensuring our visitors can enjoy a real Devon experience throughout the day!”

The Show promises non-stop entertainment including the thrilling stunt riding Bolddog Lings Freestyle Motorcycle Display Team, top horse and dog competitions, country life sports and not forgetting the amazing, two metre tall, high-tech robot Titan and ‘friend’.

“Devon is a county overflowing with goodness,” added Ollie Allen. “We promise a day of fun, the opportunity to ‘shop ‘til you drop’, spectacular arena attractions and features full of scintillating scents and tantalising tastes!”