Agriculture, crafts, brass bands and much more at annual rural extravaganza
County Show makes hay until the rain
RAIN failed to dampen the spirit at the Kent County Show with more than 67,000 visitors over the three- day period. With the sunshine on Friday, July 15, the largest attendance since 2007 was achieved at the Detling showground with numbers up more than 20% on 2010. However, with 43mm of rainfall over the next two days, numbers were unsurprisingly down on previous years. Speaking at the show, George Jessel, chairman of the Kent County Agricultural Society, outlined plans for a £6million initiative to showcase “the bread basket of London”. The society has gained planning permission to re-
place the existing Kent Pavilion with a new rural complex which will focus on education, business and “green” energy. Mr Jessel said he would be seeking backing from individuals, trusts and sponsors for a pioneering complex in partnership with Hadlow College. Guest of honourwas theDuke ofKent, who arrived
by helicopter and toured the large marquees housing hundreds of cows, lambs and pigs exhibited by Kent Young Farmers. As well as the traditional agricultural competitions,
the show included a village green area celebrating what is best about rural villages, including brass bands, maypole dancing and a pub. Mr Jessel congratulated executive manager Roger Moore and his staff and the 450 voluntary stewards. Despite two days of adverse weather, “the show goes on” and the dates for 2012 are July 13,14 and 15.
Claire Tyler with 18-month-old Annie, who won the dairy confirmation class for Cobtree Young Farmers
Pupils show off
their animal farm STUDENTS of Valley Park Community School raised around £1,000 by showing off the school farm’s huge collection of sheep, cattle, chicken and pets to the public. The school, which is one
Katie Manvell (12) and SimoneWood (17) show off the prize-winning livestock under the care of pupils from New Line Learning
Tradi- tional
maypole dancing from
pupils at West
Borough Primary School, Maid- stone
Pam Hawker (right), from Loose, showsMargaret Philpott how to spin yarn in the Kent Guild of Spinners, Dyers andWeavers display tent
of only eight in Kent to have its own farm, competed at the Kent County Show, with 32 members of its Young Farmer’s Club taking its livestock to the Detling showground.
FORMER teacher at Barming Primary School, Liz Hall, displays a miniature garden by 11-year-old pupil Matilda Collins, which won a Top Gold award. Liz, who is a member of the National Associa-
tion of Flower Arrangement Societies, runs a garden club, called Buddies, at the school. Children in Year 6 made 26 gardens and 10 were chosen for the show.
8 East
Matt Attwood of Kent NFU shows how strawberries are grown in poly- tunnels by Hugh Lowe Farms
Daniel Denness of Alphabet Orchids, Headcorn, and JohnWalters, chair- man of the South East Orchid Society, with their gold winning display
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