Celebrating 30 Years at the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum on 19 July
The Weald & Downland Open Air Museum’s 30th Anniversary Rare & Traditional Breeds Show will be held on the Museum’s beautiful downland site on Sunday 19 July. This annual celebration of the diversity of rare and traditional breeds of farm livestock has become one of the South East’s most popular agricultural shows since its inception as the Singleton Show in July 1985.
The UK’s smallholders play a vital role in nurturing rare and traditional breeds of livestock and several hundred cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and poultry will take part in the show. The Rare & Traditional Breeds Show has a strong following from exhibitors and visitors who value its friendly and traditional atmosphere, set against the backdrop of the Museum’s beautiful downland location.
Classes are held for cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. Most importantly, the next generation of exhibitors and stockmen are actively encouraged to participate in the showing and compete for prizes. The Museum also has a longstanding association with South Downs sheep and is delighted to welcome Gail Sprake, Chairman of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and Secretary to the South Downs Sheep Society, as a special guest.
This year the Rare & Traditional Breeds Show has been appointed as a qualifying show for the Shetland Sheep Society’s quinquennial Champion of Champions Competition. The Breed Champion will be eligible for the honour of competing for Champion of Champions in Lanark on 28 August.
Other attractions at the show include a wide range of local crafts, trade stands with farm animal and countryside themes, locally produced food, plus the opportunity to explore the 50 historic buildings on the Museum’s 40-acre site. There is a lot to see and do at this fun event for the whole family to enjoy.
Richard Pailthorpe, Museum Director, says: “The Museum first hosted a show for rare breeds in the summer of 1985, in conjunction with the Sussex branch of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. It is now one of the Museum’s most popular annual shows, and we are proud to promote these fantastic breeds and to encourage young stockmen to enter the profession.”
The Museum is open for the show from 10.00am – 5.00pm. Regular Museum admission fees include entry to the Rare & Traditional Breeds Show. The Museum café will be open, plus there are indoor and outdoor picnic areas. Dogs on leads are welcome and there is ample free parking. On non-event days this summer, the Museum is open from 10.30am – 6pm.
For further information see www.wealddown.co.uk/events/rare-and-traditional-breeds-show
