Things to do at DayTripFinderBuckinghamshire
Berkshire
East Sussex
Hampshire
Isle of Wight
Kent
Oxfordshire
Surrey
West Sussex
RENOWNED RARE BREEDS SHOW CELEBRATES RARE BREEDS
There will be an extra special celebration this summer at the ever-popular Rare and Traditional Breeds Show on Sunday 24 July at the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum, as the show reaches its 20th anniversary. The event, held on the Museum’s beautiful Sussex downland site at Singleton, near Chichester, is one of the South East’s most popular countryside shows and celebrates the diversity of farm livestock across the region.
There will be an extra special celebration this summer at the ever-popular Rare and Traditional Breeds Show on Sunday 24 July at the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum, as the show reaches its 20th anniversary. The event, held on the Museum’s beautiful Sussex downland site at Singleton, near Chichester, is one of the South East’s most popular countryside shows and celebrates the diversity of farm livestock across the region. Smallholders throughout the south are playing a vital role in nurturing rare and traditional breeds of livestock. Several hundred cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, ponies, rabbits and poultry of numerous rare breeds are expected to take part in the show which vividly demonstrates the qualities of the rarest of farm animals. Over the last 20 years, the event has a generated a great following, both from exhibitors and visitors, who value its friendly atmosphere – a reminder of traditional agricultural shows. Other features of the show – the largest of its kind in South East England – include magnificent rare breed cattle, orange-bristled Tamworth pigs and even rare breed ponies on parade. In addition, there will be Pygmy goats, not much more than one foot high, Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs with their dramatic black blotches, and the attractive Southdown Sheep with their teddy bear faces and dumpling shape. The show also attracts four-legged visitors from further afield: this year for the first time the Golden Guernsey Goat Society will incorporate their Southern Breed Show as part of the event. With its lovely coat of a range of shades of gold, and its affectionate and docile nature, the Golden Guernsey is likely to become a favourite with visitors. The next generation’s exhibitors and stockmen are nurtured at the show with classes for young handlers, with assorted sheep and goats in tow. Older children are judged for their skills by experienced livestock judges. Spinners, weavers and dyers show their mettle in the hand spun marquee, which in addition to the usual knitted, woven and crochet items, this year includes articles made from felt, and extra skeins of wool sections. Practical demonstrations are in the trade stands area, where once again there will be a wide selection of country crafts and trades – with some exciting new faces as well as familiar ones. This year there will be a separate food and produce area, featuring tasty fare from quality producers including a choice of meats, jam, cakes, fudge and locally produced cider. Visitors can also take the opportunity to look round the 45 historic buildings on the Museum’s 50-acre site, including the recreated medieval farmstead and working Tudor kitchen, and visit the Museum’s own team of working Shire horses, oxen and other farm livestock. The Museum is open for the Rare and Traditional Breeds Show and every day this summer from 10.30 am - 6.00 pm. Admission charges are: adults £7.70, over 60s £6.70; children £4.10, family ticket £21, and include a full day’s entry to all the Museum buildings and outdoor exhibits. Group rates are also available. Background information The award-winning Weald & Downland Open Air Museum has over 45 historic building exhibits and is designated by the Government for the outstanding importance of its collections. Exhibits include a medieval farmstead; a working watermill producing wholemeal stoneground flour; exhibitions focusing on traditional building techniques and agriculture; historic gardens, farm livestock and a working Tudor kitchen. The Museum runs a well-established programme of courses in building conservation and rural crafts. There is a café which uses the Museum’s own flour and a shop with gifts and books on countryside and buildings themes. The modern Downland Gridshell houses the Museum’s building conservation centre and artefact collection. There is a daily tour at 1.30pm when the Museum is open, and an appointments system for visits to the collections for research purposes. Further details about the Museum and its activities are also available on the Museum information line on 01243 811348
27.06.05
