There are bigger country shows and some that stretch over several days but very few that can pack so much into one day in September as Moreton Show. This is the countryside in a day – it’s farming, food, fashion and fun.
Sitting pretty in the fields of the Batsford Estate on the edge of Moreton in Marsh, this is the show that has typified the glorious Cotswolds since its inception in 1949. A highlight of the summer, the Moreton Show continues to promote local agriculture as well as providing a wealth of entertainment and a social hub for old friends and competitors.
The real stars continue to be the magnificent farm animals – more than 2,000 cows, horses, sheep, pigs, dogs and goats. There is some serious competition too. Moreton is home to the National Poll Hereford Cattle Show and the National Show of Cotswold Sheep and the show is also promoting the Future Farmers’ Initiative, with the next generation of livestock farmers competing in the prestigious and increasingly popular Junior Handler competitions.
Horses compete in five show rings, with classes including qualifiers for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show at the NEC in Birmingham in October and attracting leading riders and equestrian enthusiasts from all over the UK.
Head of Equestrian Classes, Liz Day said: ‘‘We have classes for almost every type of horse, from hunters and top sport horses to Dartmoor and Shetland ponies. And for fun, we even have a mounted fancy dress competition.”
With farming increasingly about the food on our plates, the Country Larder Food Hall showcases the best of British food and drink. Local producers are well represented and visitors can look forward to some sumptuous choices for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. The Home and Garden Marquee, meanwhile, features more than 140 classes for fruit, vegetables and flowers.
There are 350 trade stands showing or selling everything, from Combine Harvesters to Wellington boots. There are rural crafts to marvel at, like mole catching and stone walling. There is even dancing sheep.
The Attractions Ring this year features dogs and ducks, falconry, fancy dress ponies, racing terriers and the parade of vintage tractors that tell their own tale of how things in the countryside used to be.
An injection of speed comes with The IMPS, the dashing youngsters on motorbikes who are coming to Moreton in Marsh fresh from their appearance at the Basel International Tattoo in Switzerland.
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Tickets are available online or at plenty of local outlets. There are massive savings too if you buy them now. All the details are at
