The Royal Cheshire Show 2016

 

If you follow me on social media you will know we visited our local County Show yesterday.

We had the most amazing day, saw loads of people we know and, best of all, I think I have almost convinced Hubster about Pygmy goats. Watch this space.

We set off early to the Tabley Show Ground in Knutsford, where the Royal Cheshire Show was taking place.

We got permission from Boo’s school so that she could attend and it was a lovely family day out.

On arrival, we marvelled at the whole host of goodies at the farmer’s market and I spotted the cheese lady who I met at Open Farm Sunday.
I made a beeline for the poultry and goats and did have a little daydream that that could be me one day, in a white coat, showing my prize goats. There were talks across both days about keeping chickens, goats and other animals and there were people on hand, answering questions and giving out leaflets. I got quite a few on goat keeping which I keep swatting up on.

There was something for everyone-equestrian, machinery, clothing, food, all with a farming, countryside and Cheshire connection.

The local Womens’ Institute was on hand with baby changing facilities and a quiet place for nursing mothers if you wanted to take the weight off your feet for a bit.

We visited the Sainsbury’s Agri Centre which housed a Plough to Plate exhibition for visitors to meet real people behind farming and see animals both large and small, at all stages of life.

It was so good in there.

There were cows being milked, calves on display, a massive pig and her piglets, chicks just hatched, week old chicks and then chickens.

Shearing demonstrations took place, there was a display showing all of the crops grown in Cheshire, a model farm, tasting sessions. It was brilliant.

I think this was my children’s favourite bit (apart from the fair ground). Boo got given a This is Dairy Farming wrist band which she loves and wore to school the next day. G just adores animals and was ‘helpfully’ pulling straw from the neat bales to feed to the calves.

I didn’t have the heart to explain the difference between straw, hay and sileage at his age. He will learn soon enough.

There were marching bands, horse shows (of all varieties from jumping to Shires), cattle rings, sheep, sheep dog trials, gun dogs, everything to do with the countryside.

There was also a Countryside Experience where ducks and geese were herded into pens by sheep dogs and visitors could get hands on with real farming practices.
Whilst at the Countryside Experience, Boo spotted the Carousel-he favourite thing so we had to leave right away to let her have a go.

There were rides for all ages and my two loved the little car ride.

I wish we had gone both days. It was so big and there was so much to see that we all felt we could have spent a week there and still not seen everything.

The only bad point was that the food was very expensive. A burger was over £5 and chips were over £4 on some stalls. It was a treat day for us but if you go more than one day or have a large family, it might be an idea to pack a picnic for next year.

We are already looking forward to the 2017 Royal Cheshire Show. It is taking place from the 20th-21st June, 2017.