Published on 18th December, 2020
Following the cancellation of both The Royal Bath & West Show and The Dairy Show, the Society is looking forward to hosting five shows during 2021 that will appeal to farmers, horse exhibitors, and the general public.
In making its plans, the Society has had to manage both COVID19 and financial risk, so the events will be aimed at specific target markets with some of the competition being held behind closed doors.
On Thursday 6th May, the Society will host Grassland UK. This show is aimed at farmers and contractors who are passionate about growing and feeding grass with a focus on seed choice, grazing techniques and demonstrations of silage making equipment with demonstration plots positioned right across the 240 acres of the showground.
The new Bath & West Equine Showing Show will take place on the Showground on 21st & 22nd May. While being COVID secure behind-closed-doors, the Show will attract the usual high standard of show horses and ponies including qualifiers to HOYS
From Thursday 3rd to Saturday 5th June the Bath & West will present a “Great British Country Festival”. The main show that everyone in our community knows and loves will be refined somewhat in 2021 to recognise the likely continuation of social distancing regulations.
However, the show will, as always, feature a host of activities, demonstrations and entertainment that our supporters would expect – and all in a COVID19 secure environment.
The main ring will be packed with entertainment with exciting show jumping, the speed of the pony scurry, the ever-popular Pony Club Games, and the majestic Heavy Horses with further excitement provided by Paul Hannam’s Quad Bike Stunt Show
Elsewhere around the Festival sheep, pigs, cattle and milking demonstrations will be on hand to inform our visitors of practical farming with the popular Farming for The Family section being busy with great inter-active experiences for all the family. Other favourites will include a much-enhanced food hall experience with a strong focus on cider and honey exhibitions with competitions still being a highlight for many of our visitors.
And as for entertainment, The Wurzels will be making a welcome return to complement the array of performers around the Main Lawn and Woodland & Countryside Conservation area.
Plans are also being put in place to host a Livestock showing event later in the summer with a date to be confirmed in the New Year. This event will feature all the competitive showing that would normally take place at the Royal Bath & West Show, but due to the COVID risks are better suited for 2021 to be held behind closed doors, while still providing a great showcase for pedigree stock.
The Society’s show season concludes with the 40th annual Dairy Show on 6th October. This popular farmer trade event brings together livestock farmers and professionals from over the UK to explore new technologies to support and increase productivity in farming.
The Society’s Chief Executive, Rupert Cox comments: –
“We are delighted to be able to announce our shows programme for 2021. 2020 has been such a disappointment for everyone in the agricultural show sector. It is a great end-of-year fillip to be able to announce a program of events that we believe, subject to further COVID regulations, will provide all our supporters and stakeholders with some positive news to take into next year.
While our new Festival will feel slightly different to the usual Royal Bath & West Show, we know that the entertainment and diverse interests at the “Great British Country Festival” will provide a great day out for all the family, in a COVID19 secure environment.
We are also excited to host three specialist shows throughout the summer and autumn for our farming community as we recognise that even in difficult times, the agricultural sector is the core of our charitable objectives”