In this special issue of the TAS newsletter we're previewing what we consider to be the top 4 events for smallholders in the coming year.
There are brilliant local agricultural shows in every part of the UK, and while they are of interest to smallholders they rarely have showing classes, features or trade exhibitions aimed specifically at smallholders. Most of us with small acreages don't need a £100k tractor, and although showing our rare breeds is fun, it's less fun if you're up against commercial breeds.
These 4 events - 3 large shows and a conference - are held for you. They are educational, a great way to meet other smallholders, and most of all fun. If you've never shown before make 2015 the year!
| |  |
Smallholding Scotland is a brand new educational and networking event for 2015, aimed at smallholders and small-scale food producers and organised by the non-profit Smallholder Events Scotland in association with Zero Waste Scotland. It's an all-day event being held at the Huntingtower Hotel in Perth on Friday 13th February.
Tickets are £25 per person and on sale now at the Smallholding Scotland website. Ticket numbers are limited and sales close 31st January so get your skates on! The 2015 conference includes 8 sessions across 2 streams covering subjects from CAP reform to polytunnels to neo-natal lamb care to the new small farm grant scheme to getting the best from your soil, with contributions from Zero Waste Scotland, Scotland's Rural College, Soil Association Scotland and the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspection Division. The conference aims to inform and involve smallholders across the country, offering the smaller scale producer the details of upcoming legislative changes and benefits, as well as more practical discussions on issues that affect many smallholders each year. | |  |
The Royal Welsh Aagricultural Society Spring Festival is one of the largest agricultural shows in Wales. While the Festival caters for many different audiences including gardeners, commercial farmers and dog breeders, the event offers much for smallholders.
The Festival includes classes for conventional and rare breed livestock, a Green Horizons & Sustainable Living Exhibition, a vintage machinery display, a Premier Open Dog Show with over 1000 entries, and a Folk Dance Festival. Adult tickets start at £12 per day and are available to buy online now.
Displays in the Floral Hall together with a wide range of garden, agricultural, food and craft stands and a full programme of family entertainment, make up the winning formula of the event. Visitors can also listen in a number of talks and participate in question and answer sessions on a variety of smallholding, horticultural, environmental and countryside issues.
This is certainly a Festival which celebrates rural life in a practical but enjoyable way, in arguably one of the most picturesque areas of Wales. The Festival is a hive of activity, offering the perfect day out for all, whatever your interest or passion.
| |  |
The Smallholders Show at Ardingly in Sussex in the south of England is the best day out for you to find everything you could want for your smallholding, small farm or large garden. There will be over 150 trade stands at the show - a great day out for all the family including the dog.
Whether you are an experienced Smallholder, enthusiastic gardener, or simply have a keen interest in rural life, this show could be for you.
With over 150 traders & exhibitors at the show, it offers a wide range of garden, agricultural, food & craft stands with a full programme of family entertainment & poultry, livestock & even more animals to see to celebrate country living.
Expert advisory & training groups are on hand for talks & demos on a wide variety of countryside, farming & smallholding issues. The Small Farm Training Group will be doing a series of talks over the weekend
Adult tickets start at £10 per day and are available to buy online now.
| |  |
Now in its fourth year, the Scottish Smallholder & Grower Festival has already established itself as the number on event for smallholders in Scotland and the north of England. Returning to Lanark Agricultural Centre for 2015, it's Scotland’s largest smallholder event, celebrating the best of Scottish smallholding, growing and craft.
The sheep, cattle, pig and goat shows are unique in Scotland, focusing on breeds popular with smallholders, crofters and small-scale keepers. The poultry and waterfowl show includes classes for geese, turkeys and ducks, as well as large fowl and bantams, plus junior and novice classes. The Craft and Food Fair includes classes for eggs, wool crafts, baking, preserves and much more.
Plus there's a full programme of demonstrations and seminars to inform and inspire - a packed day out for anyone interested in smallholding and small-scale craft and foor production. Tickets start at £9 for adults (under 16s go free) and are on sale now at the Scottish Smallholder Festival website.
Following its successful inaugural outing in 2014, the 2015 Festival is again hosting the RBST Scottish National Stock Championships, celebrating rare breeds past and present from the RBST Watchlist, and will host the only Scottish qualifier of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Young Shepherd of the Year 2016.
There are plenty of opportunities for businesses too - trade stands, craft fair stands, sponsorship and advertising.
| |  |
A few selected highlights from the forums in recent days:
- Poultry & Waterfowl
Hen behaving like a cockerel, Chickens and vets, Duck bedding, Wire cages.
- Pigs
DIY pig arks, Preventing pigs lifting gates off hinges, Making money at small-scale pigs,What can i feed to help bulk them up a bit?
- Sheep
Why do my girls head butt each other?, Free lambing kit, Heptavac P Plus, Feeding ewes in lamb, Ridiculously easy sheep trough design.
- Goats
Increasing feed near end of pregnancy, Cider vinegar in water, Considering getting a few goats
- Elsewhere
Polled v horned cattle - which is dominant genetically?, Pure breed cattle for outwintering and marketability, Winter crops for polytunnel, Lazy beds, Growing mushrooms, Buying smallholding - advice, Drainage - rough costs
|
|
|
