AGRICULTURE will be celebrated in west Dorset today as the Melplash Show opens its doors.
Organised by the Melplash Agricultural Society, the annual event takes place at West Bay Showground, with the gates opening at 8am.
The Toolstation main ring will be full of special attractions this year including the Jason Smyth’s Adrenaline Tour performing stunts on quad bikes and motorcycles. The Discover Farming marquee that attracted crowds of youngsters last year will be even bigger and better today.
There will again be a variety of ‘Farm to Food’ activities and interactive demonstrations for children to get involved with and to learn about food production and farming. This year there will also be a dedicated marquee called ‘Farmers for the Future’ where older children and young adults can experience first-hand a selection of the new technologies that are being used in farming today for example robotic milking and the use of drones for inspecting crops.
Local farmers will be competing for the top prizes in the many livestock classes. There are expected to be record numbers of cattle, goats, sheep and pigs all competing in their individual classes. For horse lovers there is a large selection of horse, pony and donkey competitions.
There will be hundreds of home and craft exhibits on display, alongside a large horticultural and floral art show. Alongside the Best Bridport Banger Competition, there is a new Scotch egg competition sponsored by Sausage and Pear with excellent prizes to dine at their Station Kitchen in West Bay.
There are a host of other attractions including the amusing Sheep Show, Punch and Judy, more than 350 trade stands, two indoor craft marquees, a fun fair, a magnificent food hall with cookery theatre, the popular countryside area with its displays and country sports arena - ferret and terrier racing and a falconry display on horseback.
PICTURE GALLERY: Melplash Show 2015
The Food Hall at Melplash Show will celebrate the best quality regional food and drink. This year it is going to be even bigger with more than 50 producers on show.
The producer recognised as the best by this year’s judges Arthur and Janet Watson will receive the Sandwich Plate presented to the Society by Lady Sandwich when she was President in 2012. This will be awarded in the main ring during the Society’s award ceremony at 3.30 pm.
A free bus from South West Coaches will be running from Lyme Regis stopping at all main bus stops en route in Lyme Regis, Charmouth, Morcombelake, Chideock and Bridport. The first one leaves Lyme Regis at 7.45 and runs approximately every 45 minutes. The first bus leaves Bridport Coach Station at 8.30am and runs approximately every 30 minutes. Timetables available to view at melplashshow.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here