How to make the most of the Surrey County Show

Above: This year's Surrey County Show site map

Above: 1. Go to a cookery workshop

Above: 2. Visit the Surrey Food Theatre

Above: 3. Find out about keeping chickens

Above: 4. Browse the Farmers' Market

Above: 5. Taste bread as nature intended

Above: 6. Meet the pigs

Above: 7. Learn about Surrey's farming history

Above: 8. Befriend some Donkeys

Above: 9. Buy beewax candles

Above: 10. Watch the Great cattle parade

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With so much to see at the Surrey County Show, the largest one-day agricultural show in the UK, it can sometimes be a bit daunting deciding where to go first. Here, JANE GARRETT reveals ten of the things you must do at this year’s event


1
Go to a cookery workshop
This is the Year of Food and Farming, where the aim is to reconnect people with the countryside and everything that grows in it. Jethro Carr, of the Kitchen Academy, will be cooking up lots of activities for children with workshops where they can learn about food. “People don’t always appreciate how simple cooking can be,” he says. “My approach has always been relatively straightforward. To use good, healthy, fresh ingredients and not to fuss around with them too much.”

2
Visit the Surrey Food Theatre
The Surrey Food Theatre features two more fantastic chefs: Paul Pegrum from The Long Room Brasserie in Farncombe and David Alders from the Three Horseshoes community-owned pub at Thursley. The pair will both be concentrating on Surrey produce. Paul is a Masterchef of Great Britain and Dave was trained at the Savoy in London; they both share a passion for quality cuisine. They will be demonstrating how to get the best from locally grown, seasonal food.

3
Find out about keeping chickens
The Poultry Tent could just change your life for ever. From exotic Brahmas with their feathery trousers to the Silkie with its bouffant hairdo, the stately Orpington or petite Bantam, hens make decorative and productive additions to the garden and are extremely easy to keep. In fact, keeping hens is getting increasingly popular. Just think of all those fresh eggs for breakfast! The ducks are fun too. Poultry lovers will be there ready to explain about the different breeds and help people get started.

4
Browse the Farmers’ Market
Packed full with fantastic fresh, seasonal produce, the Farmers’ Market is a definite highlight of the show – buy during the day and retrieve your purchases from the chiller when you are ready to go home. Surrey produce includes the only cheese produced in the county, Norbury Blue, made by Michaela from Norbury Park Farm in Mickleham; herbs from the Pepperpot Nursery at Milford; Indian curries made in Ashtead, using Surrey produce in Ishmael’s Mother’s recipes; and authentic Indian sauces created by Anila from Walton-on-Thames.

5
Taste bread as nature intended
Margaret Barlow and James Halfhide (pictured right) from Imbhams Farm Granary, just outside Haslemere, will be demonstrating the whole story of grain to bread using their milling machines to create the freshest flour you have ever seen. Try spelt, the ancient grain now making a comeback as it is kind on the stomach for people with gluten intolerance. You can also buy the mills to make your own fresh flaked oats or flour; the difference is sensational!

6
Meet the pigs
The smallholders’ pig competition is a first for Surrey and unique in the UK – a show specially designed for smallholders and hobby pig fanciers. Pigs are great to keep, and breeds like Gloucestershire Old Spots have really nice natures – and, of course, jolly spots. There are formal showing classes but also lots of fun classes, too, such as the pig most like its owner, the happiest pig and the pig with the curliest tail… Not to be missed!

7
Learn about Surrey’s farming history
The Surrey Hills celebrates 50 years as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty this year. Their marquee will feature displays showing how farming has changed since the Second World War with wonderful old photos, workshops for children to get involved with, and hands-on and oral history. Just near the Surrey Hills marquee, you can meet heavy horses and even see a vintage and modern tractor up close. The heavy horses will also be giving a demonstration in the main arena during the morning and afternoon.

8
Befriend some Donkeys
Donkeys are another first for the Surrey County Show. Donkey breeding and showing is increasing in popularity and there will be various classes including ones for young handlers and another for miniature donkeys. Donkeys are not just small and grey. They can be skewbald, and some continental breeds are the size of a substantial horse. They all have minds of their own, though, so it should definitely be fun…

9
Buy beeswax candles
Come and appreciate the wonderful natural product that is honey. Bees are the vital pollinators for our crops and garden flowers, and the beeswax and honey they create are an added bonus. There is much talk now of bees being threatened by disease so it’s important to support beekeeping and to learn how to look after swarms safely. See the comb with the honey inside and meet the bees face to face in a glass-covered cross section of a hive. And, of course, buy Surrey honey and beeswax candles.

10
Watch the Great cattle parade
The climax of the Surrey County Show is the great cattle parade – all the breeds trooping in behind their banners, the winners decked in their champions’ sashes, coats gleaming… From the massive Charolais bulls down to the little Dexter calves, the cattle demonstrate the very best of British farming. Some of the families have been showing their animals here for more than 50 years. The commentary is brilliant and the parade enables visitors to share in the pride of the farming community.

• The Surrey County Show takes place in Stoke Park, Guildford, on Monday May 26 from 9am to 6pm. Adults: £12 (£9 in advance); concessions: £8 (£6 in advance); children (five to 16): £6 (£4.50 in advance). Family ticket (two adults and two children): £32 (£25 in advance). Children under five free. Dogs welcome on a lead. For tickets, call 01483 890810 or visit www.surreycountyshow.co.uk

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