2010 line up unveiled

28th April 2010

The Devon County Show on May 20-22 is continuing to innovate while staying true to its farming roots.

That’s the message of this year’s lunch to launch the Show on Wednesday (April 28) when the packed line-up of features and entertainment will be unveiled to local journalists and editors.

Show Secretary Ollie Allen said: “The Show is a microcosm of Devon. The county needs to continue to innovate whilst looking after its core farming business; and the same is true for the Show itself.

“Farming is essential to the local economy and to the whole ethos and feel of the county; it’s what shapes our countryside and makes our county what it is.  But, of course, we need to continue to innovate to attract local people to their county Show and give them a truly memorable day out.”

There are lots of new attractions this year to ensure visitors find plenty of interest. 

FunForKidz is a new children’s feature bursting with hands-on activity for lively youngsters; everything from planting seeds to baking bread, milking Daisy, weaving willow wands, seeing chicks hatch, watching Tractor Ted DVDs and petting Crealy’s tame animals.

Pure Indulgence is a new women’s feature put on by David Warwick of Warwick Corporate Events. It includes fashion shows, demonstrations and trade stands.

Exmouth Town is coming to the Show for the first time and is bringing the beach!

Thursday visitors can stay until 8pm thanks to a musical programme at the bandstand organised by BBC Radio Devon. [Trade stands close at 6.30 pm as usual.]

The number of agricultural trade stands is up significantly on recent years thanks to new technology and the renewable energy agenda. Livestock and equine numbers are excellent: sheep section entries have hit a new record; horse entries are well ahead of last year; other livestock entry numbers are also coming in well but have yet to be confirmed.

At the opening day breakfast debate, organised jointly by the Country Landowners Association and the Devon County Show, a panel of leading experts will discuss the use of GM technology.

Allied countryside crafts are also strong – the Show has a record entry in the shoeing classes. General trade stand space sold out two months ago and there is a waiting list for cancellations.

The lunch menu to launch the Show features South Devon beef and is a celebration of Devon livestock farming and the environmental benefits it brings.

At the last count, there were 581,000 dairy and beef cattle – more than in any other English county – and 1.4 million sheep, grazing between them over a million acres of grassland, including 800,000 acres of permanent pasture.

Ollie Allen added: “But there is another side to grass-fed beef, dairy and lamb, and that is in the nutritional quality, which is higher, and the flavour, which is better, and that is something else that we are reflecting in today’s meal.

"Devon therefore has a very special interest in the debate over the environmental footprint of ruminant livestock.  At the Show we firmly believe that our grazing livestock are a force for good.  Yes, they do inevitably emit the greenhouse gas, methane, because of their natural digestive processes.

 “But just look at the benefits on the other side of the equation:  millions of tonnes of carbon locked up in that huge area of permanent pasture; the natural fertility which comes out of those two million back ends – without which demand for fossil fuel-intensive artificial fertilisers would be vastly increased; the remarkably rich variety of plants, insects and animals which depend upon ruminant livestock and the land they graze; and, of course, the magnificent Devon landscape, whose pastoral beauty springs directly from grazing livestock.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Devon County Show – May 20-22
• For information and pictures visit www.devoncountyshow.co.uk

·       Advance tickets: adults - £14.50; children (5 to 15) – Thursday and Friday £5; family tickets – Thursday and Friday £40; children go free on Saturday (when accompanied by an adult);  over 60s - £12.50 or ‘Buy One Get One Free £12.50  for two on Thursday and Friday. 

·      

MPiPicture credit: Peter Hayes

·       Menu

On Arrival - Sparkling Cider, ‘Home County’ Ale and Canapes

Main Course - South Devon Beef, Vegetable and Ale Casserole with Celeriac Mash

Dessert - Devon Apple Pie with South Devon Clotted Cream

Devon Cheeseboard

Coffee / Tea and Devon Chocolates

 

Suppliers:

Canape ingredients

Jackson’s Fish, 52 Queen Street, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 2 EW

T. 01626 353 465 E. enquiries@jacksonsfish.co.uk

M C Kelly Ltd, Elston Farm, Crediton, Devon EX17 5PB

T. 01363 84545 E. sales@mckelly.co.uk

 

Cheese Scones (and Bread Rolls)

Endicott Ltd, 21 East Street, Okehampton, Devon EX20 1AT

T. 01837 52888

 

‘Vintage Sparkling Cider’ & ‘Devon Blush’ Rose Sparkling Cider

Ashridge Cider, Barkington Farm, Staverton,

Totnes, Devon TQ9 6AN

T. 01364 654749 E. jason@ashridgecider.co.uk

 

‘Home County’ Ale

The Beer Engine Pub & Brewery, Newton St Cyres, Exeter,

Devon EX5 5AX

T. 01392 851282 E. info@thebeerengine.co.uk

 

‘Bramley Apple’ and ‘Jonagold’ Apple Juice and Bottled Water

Sunnyhaye Fruit Farm, Sanctuary Lane, Colaton Raleigh,

Woodbury, Exeter, Devon EX5 1EX

T. 01395 232223 E. sales@sunnyhaye.com

 

Meat & Sausages

Producer: P W A Dare & Sons, Coryton Park, Kilmington,

Axminster, Devon EX13 7RD

T. 01297 33496 (South Devon Meat Producer)

Retailer: J & A Gibbins, Unit 4, Exhibition Way, Exeter,

Devon EX4 8HX

E. paul@agibbins.co.uk (South Devon Meat Retailer and Sausages)

 

Vegetables

Westcountry King, Providene Court, Pocombe Bridge, Exeter,

Devon EX4 2HB

T. 01392 426666 E. sales@westcountryking.com

 

Milk

Dairy Crest UK,Torquay, Devon

T. 01803 324424

 

Cream Cheese, Crème Fraiche, Cream

Langage Farm, Higher Challonsleigh, Smithaleigh,

Nr Plymouth, Devon PL7 5AY

T. 01752 337723 E. richard@langagefarm.com

 

Butter

Wyke Farms, White House Farm, Wyke Champflower, Bruton,

Somerset BA10 0PU

T. 01749 812424 E. info@wykefarms.com

 

Cheese

Quickes Traditional Ltd, Home Farm, Newton St Cyres, Exeter,

Devon EX5 5AY

T. 01392 851222 E. sales@quickes.co.uk

Curworthy Cheese, Stockbeare Farm, Jacobstowe, Okehampton,

Devon EX20 3PZ

T. 01837 810587 E. enquiries@curworthycheese.co.uk

 

Bramley Apples

Four Elms Fruit Farm, Higher Way, Hapford, Sidmouth,

Devon EX10 0NJ

T. 01395 568286 E. fourelmsfruitfarm@btopenworld.com

 

Chocolates

Brownes Chocolates Ltd, 58 North Road Industrial Estate,

Okehampton, Devon EX20 1BQ

T. 01837 55681 E. wendy@brownes.co.uk

 

Tea

D J Miles & Co Ltd, Porlock House, Stephenson Road, Minehead,

Somerset TA24 5EB

T. 0800 387948 E. info@dmiles.co.uk

 

 

 

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