| Shows
The countdown is on for this year ’ s Royal Highland Show
Preparations for the 178th Royal Highland Show , which will be held on 21-24 June 2018 , are well underway , and promises to offer the best of Scotland ’ s farming , food and rural life .
S upported by The Royal Bank of Scotland , partner since 1981 , and staged at the Royal Highland Centre , in Edinburgh , the four-day event is a once in a year opportunity to really experience rural life ; with over 6,000 farm animals and horses ; rural crafts ; a dedicated forestry area , award winning farriers ’ display , a busy countryside arena with a wide variety of exciting displays and any number of big tractors – not forgetting the biggest food festival in Scotland .
Entertainment plays a big part of the Show with a huge variety of live music across two stages and shopping in the 13th Avenue Arcade includes fashion , artwork and even furniture for home and garden .
Children aged 15 and under go free with an accompanying adult , and the RHET discovery centre is a must visit for curious youngsters looking to discover about the countryside and where their food comes from .
If you are interested in where your food actually comes from , then Scotland ’ s Larder Live is a must see part of the Show with the award winning food and drink on display as well as top chefs cooking delicious dishes .
With 94 % of visitors questioned in 2017 commenting on the Show ’ s ‘ great atmosphere ’ it is an event with huge urban appeal with 88 % of non- farming visitors agreeing that there is so much to see and do . Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of the ‘ Early Bird ’ ticket promotion to book early and save over 17 % on a family day out .*
“ There is real customer loyalty to our Show , says David Jackson , Show Manager , with almost two thirds having attended the Show five times or more , which I think is testament to
22 | Farming Monthly | June 2018 just how exciting , different and authentic a day at the Show is for everyone . However , what is equally exciting is the number of people attending for the first time illustrating how the Show is attracting a new audience due to the growing interest in farming , food and rural life .
“ The Show continues to expand in size and popularity . In 2017 we welcomed a record breaking 190,000 visitors and generated £ 65m for the Scottish economy . The Show is a truly unique event offering a day packed full day of entertainment and enjoyment for under £ 50 for a family of four *.” Finest Livestock
The Highland Show ’ s biggest attraction is , without doubt , the exhibition of world class livestock – with more than 6,000 of the finest cattle , sheep , goats , horses and poultry , heading for the Ingliston showground . With generations of expert husbandry and months of detailed preparation , the animals represent the highest skills in stock management . Discover in farming in everyday life
The RHET ( Royal Highland Education Trust ) Discovery Centre is a must-visit for families , with over 30,000 young people welcomed last year for FREE . Traditional skills brought to life
With a focus on showcasing rural skills , the Forge and the sheep shearing arena bring to life the work undertaken in the countryside . While the Forestry area and the hugely popular pole climbing is back again for the 2018 show . The Scottish Women ’ s Institute Handcrafts Competition , staged in the Handcrafts Pavilion , has some of the best examples of rural crafts from across Scotland and attracts competition entries for other parts of the world . The largest display of food & drink
Scotland ’ s Larder Live , the country ’ s biggest exhibition of food and drink , is a must visit destination for visitors and offers everyone a great opportunity to taste new and exciting foods from Scotland – it also gives farmers and producers a great opportunity to meet with consumers for feedback and consumers the chance to learn how food is produced and the process involved . Meanwhile award-winning cheese , bread and ice-cream is judged with the winners announced at the Show . Award-winning chefs
In the cookery theatre , Scotland ’ s chefs demonstrate how incredible meals can be created using quality ingredients from Scotland . Shopping for him , her , kids , home … and pets !
The wide range of shopping outlets brings together an amazing range of retailers , from fashion to home wear , jewellery to furniture , pet accessories to arts and crafting , many of which will see their biggest sales event of the year . The best of food-to-go
Working alongside all our on-site caterers , the Show has devised a strict Food Charter that all food-to-go outlets must adhere to ensuring top quality food , be it chips and a burger or something a little more exotic . There is a wide selection to choose from and the Food Charter requires that only ingredients that have been locally produced , wherever possible , and ethically sourced can be served at the Show . This means that not only quality is high but also Scottish farmers and growers are supported . To ensure that highest quality is maintained all onsite caterers are independently assessed every year .
For further information please visit www . royalhighlandshow . org , @ ScotlandRHShow and
# RHS2018 www . farmingmonthly . co . uk