Lincolnshire’s county show keeps agriculture at its heart
Released to agricultural media:
The 127th Lincolnshire Show will be keeping agriculture at its heart. The Show – on 22nd and 23rd June – includes the best of the county’s livestock on the judging lines and all the latest trends in farming and agriculture from the top breeds to top machines.
Two native breeds that are likely to attract much attention once again are the Lincoln Longwool sheep and Lincoln Red cattle.
From near Woodhall Spa in eastern Lincolnshire, Maurice Parker will bring his 6 Lincoln Longwools when he attends the Lincolnshire Show for the 41st time. He said: “It’s one of the best shows in the country. It’s our home county show and the stewarding at Lincolnshire is always brilliant.” Maurice has been winning championships firstly for others and for himself since 2000, including wool on hoof, interbreed and overall breed Champion.
In the cattle lines, Geoff Bolton from Market Rasen has notched up 52 Lincolnshire Shows, since his first visit as a schoolboy in 1959. Now chairman of Lincoln Red Cattle Society for the second time, and a judge himself at other agricultural shows, he has breeding Lincoln Reds for over 20 years and now has a herd of 30 beast
He said: “I’m a small player but I have had a fair bit of success both here and at other shows, including winning Lincolnshire Show Champion. It’s one of our favourite shows and the one where you will see most Lincoln Reds. Twenty years ago there were about five exhibitors, now there are many more, although they’re generally much smaller teams than they used to be, as I am”.
Her added: “Lincolnshire Show is largely still agricultural and it’s got an important role to play in education. I first came to the Show on a School trip in 1959, and now, just as then, it’s an opportunity for young people to learn and to be involved in agriculture, livestock and where food comes from.”
On the machinery lines, one major exhibitor is Househam Sprayers, the UK’s biggest supplier of crop sprayers, all manufactured in Lincolnshire and exported worldwide. Said Mick Hill of Househam Sprayers: “The Show is our PR flagship of the year. It’s great to see our customers and good to be on our home territory. We’ll be bringing a range of our machines, from a 600l mounted sprayer to our massive 6000l self-propelled sprayer with a 36m boom.”
There’s a vintage to modern day agricultural machinery display, sponsored by Spaldings and Woldmarsh.
There is a special Lincolnshire producer and supplier section in the food court this year and an educational framework for local schools in a series of farming related challenges.
And from Wrisdale’s farm in Wainfleet St Mary’s, four brothers will receive Long Service Awards for their contribution to the farming industry. Norman, Percy, Gordon and Colin Gostelow have served a total of 174 years between them.
David Chiddick, the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society President said: “The Lincolnshire Show is one of the few county shows to remain true to its agricultural heritage, a strength which has carried us forward. The Show has a valuable role for the agricultural community with excellent networking, as well as educating our community.”
He added: “The Show makes a major economic contribution too. Every £1 spent generates £20 in the local economy.”
The Show will be open from 8am to 6pm each day. Visit the Show’s website for more information
and to book your tickets www.lincs-events.co.uk or call the ticket hotline 0845 2305171 This yea
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Sarah Poucher at Lincolnshire Events Centre inc Lincolnshire Agricultural Society spoucher@lincs-events.co.uk - 01522 585501
Maggie Taylor at Prima PR maggie@primapr.co.uk – 01400 251557 / 0797 3767 602
County’s big day out promises more than ever
Lincolnshire Show 2011 : Feature article : download a copy of this : County’s big day out promises more than ever
Pictures for download on Flickr : click here
More, more, more.... That’s the message from the organisers of this year’s Lincolnshire Show - the County’s big day out.
The two-day event is overflowing with attractions for the whole family and organisers promise that it will be even bigger and better than ever.
For at this 127th Show, there are more family attractions, more delicious foods from local producers, more schools taking part in the big Challenge and more sports to try out. There are also more new attractions - like Express Eventing and the Scruffts crossbreed pooch competition.
It’s all taking place at the Lincolnshire Showground, Grange de Lings on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd June 2011.
One of the star attractions, the Knights of the Damned, are returning with a new show. Britain’s premier medieval jousting stunt team are promising more excitement and a new format for this year, according to leader Justin Pearson, who is fresh back from performing the stunts on Pirates of the Caribbean IV. The troupe also includes two local riders, Rob and James Pavey, both 21 and just qualifying as stuntmen. The Knights of the Damned will be performing both days of the Show in the Isuzu Countryside Arena.
This year’s Sports Zone is doubled in size and in the run up to the 2012 Olympics, it will feature almost all the Olympic sports. Features include the ECB cricket factory – an 11 x 9m self contained cricket batting and fielding area. Boston United will bring their inflatable penalty shoot out and wheelchair basketball in an inflatable sports barn, 20 x 11 ft. For water based sports, Lincoln Canoe Club will have virtual racing machines linked to a computer screen for visitors to test their technique and the RYA will have dinghies on show. Other sports include table tennis, volleyball, badminton, hockey and a specially adapted set up for street athletics.
Joining the Show will be Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls from the county. They are all on the Lincolnshire Elite Champions programme and include Andy Skinner of Lincoln, the GB sitting volleyball player; Bernice Wilson, the 100m sprinter from Boston, who has just undertaken the European championship; and Richard Sargent, representing wheelchair basketball.
Said Marc Rhodes, events officer with Lincolnshire Sports Partnership: “We’ve got a fantastic range of sports on offer for visitors to try out, including nearly all the Olympic sports. My favourite thing about coming to the Lincolnshire Show is the sheer numbers we get taking part. Last year we had 3,400 young people taking part and around 1,000 adults. We’re hoping to beat that this year, with even more on offer.”
In the Exhibition Hall, more local schools than ever will be taking part in this year’s Schools’ Challenge, sponsored by Farmacy Plc and E Park and Sons, it aims to encourage young people to understand more about food, farming and agriculture. Phil Everett, marketing and communications coordinator with the Education Business Partnership explained: “Every previous year we have been over-subscribed so we’ve decided to move from the Discovery Zone into the Exhibition Hall, and that allows us to have 33 entrants this year. We’ve also got a new special schools category. It’s all booked up and with a waiting list – the schools love it.”
Primary, secondary and special schools are all taking part and one new challenge for this year is called One Brand, which encourages young people to make contact with a school in a different country, where they speak a different language and have a different climate.
Phil added: “Lincolnshire is a rural county and this Challenge gives children an excellent foundation in understanding where food comes from and how it can be sourced locally. They also go on farm visits as part of the Challenge which helps to show career options in the horticulture and agricultural industry.”
This year is a real first for dog lovers. For the first time dogs will be allowed to join in the fun at the Show. They must be kept on a lead, but owners can also leave them with a special doggy-crèche being run during the Show by local animal charity, Jerry Green Dog Rescue. And not only can people bring their dogs, there’s also a chance to compete - with the Kennel Club Scruffts Competition, sponsored by James Wellbeloved, taking place at Thursday’s Show. The four competitions taking place are The Most Handsome Crossbreed Dog, The Prettiest Crossbreed Bitch, Child’s Best Friend and Golden Oldie Crossbreed. Entries for the heats will be taken on the day.
A major new attraction that will make it into the Clydesdale Bank Main Ring this year is the qualifying heat for Express Eventing, a mini version of eventing which promises a thrill a minute. The Express Eventing Series 2011 will see dressage, cross country and show jumping being completed in one arena. Eventing celebrity and 2008 winner Oliver Townend has already announced his intention to compete. “I am really looking forward to having the chance to compete. It is developing into a spectator and TV friendly version of our great sport.”
Throughout the Show, the Lincs FM stage will host the best acts who make it through the qualifiers of the radio station’s You’ve Got Talent competition. Also appearing will be two successful acts from previous years - The Substitutes and Route East. Said Katie Trinder of Lincs FM: “We have something for everyone on the stage during the two days – from rap music to heavy rock, pop to classical.” The Lincs FM presenters will also be trying their skills as a dance troupe, with some help from local dance school Streetbeat.
And BBC Lincolnshire will be in a new home near the entrance to the Clydesdale Bank Main Ring, with on stage entertainment throughout the two days, together with an exhibition explaining the digital switchover which is coming to Lincolnshire this summer.
The Select Lincolnshire and Tastes of Lincolnshire Food Court will feature a special Lincolnshire producer and supplier section this year, with a mouth-watering selection of local produce and some great homemade recipe demonstrations throughout each day from local food champion Rachel Green.
The Select Lincolnshire programme aims to raise awareness of the county’s food brands directly to the consumer. Its sister organisation Tastes of Lincolnshire encourages tourism destinations like bed and breakfasts and farm shops to put Lincolnshire produce on the menu.
“The Show is the home of Lincolnshire produce, which is arguably the best in Britain, and we need to be shouting about it,” said Helen Scott of Select Lincolnshire and Tastes of Lincolnshire. “The biggest draw is always the demonstration marquee and we’re very pleased to have local celebrity chef Rachel Green leading the line up once more.”
In the Greenhouse, a range of companies will be explaining how to live a more sustainable lifestyle. The organiser, Jo Huggett, director of 4Eco explained: “We have put together companies who cover a range of different techniques, and importantly they are all accredited organisations.” Technologies on display include solar power, biomass, wind turbines, ground source heat pumps and rain water harvesting.
And for the shopper, there will be more than 600 stands to visit, including the boutique style shopping on The Mews avenue featuring everything from bespoke kitchens to handmade pearl bracelets.
Alongside all the new attractions will be the features that lie at the heart of the Show’s traditional agricultural heritage, with events such as pig racing, showjumping, the spectacular Grand Parade of the best of the county’s livestock sponsored by Saul Fairholm in the Clydesdale Bank Main Ring and the vintage to modern day agricultural machinery display sponsored by Spaldings and Woldmarsh.
And from one of the county’s farms, an outstanding family tradition will be recognised when four brothers from Wrisdale’s farm in Wainfleet St Mary’s receive Long Service Awards, sponsored by Harold Woolgar Insurance for their contribution to the farming industry. For Norman, Percy, Gordon and Colin Gostelow have served a total of 174 years between them. Oldest brother Norman first started work in 1961, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather at the farm.
Said Mark Farmer, chief executive of Lincolnshire Agricultural Society: “This is the county’s big day out and we’re really thrilled with this year’s line up. There’s something for everyone who has a love of the countryside.”
He added: “The Lincolnshire Show is an agricultural show, one of the few county shows to remain true to its agricultural heritage, a strength which has carried us forward. It’s important to stimulate awareness of countryside matters, and the vital role that agriculture plays in the local economy.”
The Show will be open from 8am to 6pm each day. Visit the Show’s website for more information and to book your tickets www.lincs-events.co.uk or call the ticket hotline 0845 2305171
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More about the Show:
See other releases and facts about the Show by clicking here
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Lincs Show 2011: now live for press passes
THIS LINK IS NO LONGER LIVE - CHECK BACK EARLY 2012 WHEN ACCREDITATION OPENS FOR THE 2012 SHOW.
The online registration process is now open for journalists looking to attend this year's Lincolnshire Show on Wednesday 22nd June and Thursday 23rd June 2011.
Press passes can now be requested by (NO LONGER LIVE)
Every application must be made by using the online registration form.
Once accredited, all press journalists, broadcasters and photographers will receive access to a website to finalise their online registration and will be able to print off press pass(es). This will enable them to access the Show and receive the support of the staff in the press tent for interview arrangements and IT/communication links throughout the Show.
If you have any problems regarding this process or have not had a response by the first week of June, please contact Maggie Taylor at Prima PR 01400 251557 maggie@primapr.co.uk
Lincolnshire Show 2011: press passes, feature articles and reader competitions
This year’s Show takes place on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd June 2011
PRESS PASSES WILL BE DIGITAL: For 2011, press passes for the Lincolnshire Show will be managed online. ALL requests will have to be made through the website, specifying named contacts and the days on which they are attending, as digital passes will be issued this year. This forms part of the media centre area of the web site which is scheduled to go live in April.
PRESS RELEASES AND FEATURE ARTICLES ONLINE: The media centre on the web site will also include copies of all press releases and feature articles as they go live, providing a single easy-to-access route. In addition, if you would like exclusive feature material, or if you require interviews before or at the Show, we will be happy to work with you – contact Maggie Taylor at Prima PR : maggie@primapr.co.uk
READER COMPETITIONS: Each year we work with media titles to offer their readers the chance to win tickets to the Lincolnshire Show. If you are interested in discussing such joint promotions, then please get in touch and tell us how you would promote the offer to your readers or use the request form you will find within the media centre pages of the web site, when live.
PHOTOGRAPHY FROM PREVIOUS SHOWS: A selection of stock photographs from previous shows is available. A small batch from 2010 is on Flickr at the following link: primaprandmarketing You can also find many pictures from other people on Flickr if you search for Lincolnshire Show. We have archive catalogues here and elsewhere online click here for a 2009 gallery and will be happy to provide unique or specific shots on request.
Keep in touch:
The Show online: www.lincolnshireshowground.co.uk
Follow the Show on Twitter: @lincsshow
Follow the Show on Facebook: LincolnshireAgriculturalSociety
All PR and Media enquiries should be made via:
Prima PR & Marketing : info@primapr.co.uk : Tel: 01400 251557 : www.primapr.co.uk
Twitter: @magtay
Flickr: primaprandmarketing
Client news feed: click here
NB: Press releases about the Show are also available online through the Prima PR client news feed. There is also content and photography from previous years still available online, but it sits within the old client news area of www.primapr.co.uk – links can be provided on request.
ENDS
http://twitter.com/#!/magtay/status/52697287100600320
World class event draws international names
28.03.11 : POST EVENT UPDATE: For results from the Lincolnshire Horse Trials click here to read the report in Horse and Hound. And click here to read the Event Centre's review of the coverage.
The annual Lincolnshire Horse Trials takes place in March at the Lincolnshire Showground at Grange de Lings.
International riders will head up an exciting three day event when this year’s Lincolnshire Horse Trials gets under way, with up to 700 competitors expected to take part.
The 2011 event takes place at the Lincolnshire Showground from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th March with competitors taking part in dressage, show jumping and cross country over the three days at pre novice (BE100), novice and intermediate levels.
Once again, selectors for the British team are expected to be on the lookout during the pony trials that are also held.
The venue is recognised as an excellent event for early season because the flat, well drained ground is a good proving ground for both horse and rider.
International names attracted over recent years include last year’s Open intermediate winner Piggy French, Oliver Townend, Polly Stockton, Caroline Powell, Sharon Hunt, and Ruth Edge; and Olympic riders William Fox-Pitt and Nicola Wilson, both members of the Gold medal winning team at the World Equestrian Games last year, and New Zealand double gold medallist Mark Todd.
The event has also positioned itself as a showcase for local Lincolnshire talent. Last year’s successes included local Walesby rider Emily Parker who took the under-21 Open Intermediate section on Treefers, her 2009 young rider team gold medal winner. In recent years, Emily has had a stream of successes including runner up in the Pony Club Championships and Junior Regional Novice Championships in 2007. She was also fourth in the U21 Eventing National Championships at Weston Park.
Amongst other local riders, Matthew Wright from Retford won the 2010 final Open Intermediate section on Hugginstown. From Louth, Rosalind Canter had success with a win in one of the BE100 sections plus placings in other sections. And 17 year old Gina Ruck friom Tealby, a previous gold medal winner for Britain at pony level, came in sixth in the Open Intermediate Under 21 Sections.
Another BE100 section winner was Helen Scholl from near Grantham on Blackstairs King, and in the local novice section, the winner was Deborah Doyle from Lincoln.
Last year’s event provided record visitor numbers and Show director Charles Hood is hoping to build on that success in 2011. He said: “Our courses have a good variety of well-built straight forward fences, designed to give confidence for early season and it’s run over flat, extremely well-drained light land, giving ideal going.”
The event draws large visitor numbers to the county each year, providing a boost to the local economy, and is organised by Lincolnshire Events Centre on the showground site at Grange-de-Lings, which is also home to a major national conferencing venue and the groundbreaking EPIC green building project.
Running order:
Each day of this three day event is focussed on a particular class, giving visitors the chance to see all events each day, cross country, dressage and show jumping.
Friday 18th March:
BE100 and Open BE100 classes.
8.00am Dressage
8.50am Show jumping
9.30am Cross country
5.00pm Approx finishing time
Saturday 19th March:
Novice and Open Novice plus Pony Trial dressage and show jumping
8.00am Dressage
8.50am Show jumping
9.30am Cross country
5.00pm Approx finishing time
Also taking place on Saturday is Pony Trial dressage and show jumping. The pony cross country is on Sunday at 9.00 am.
Sunday 20th March
Intermediate and Open Intermediate classes plus Pony Trial cross country
8.30am Dressage
9.00am Show jumping
9.00am Pony Trial Cross country, then the open intermediate cross country
Entry on Saturday and Sunday is £5.00 per car to include all occupants.
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Laura Luty at Lincolnshire Events Centre inc Lincolnshire Agricultural Society
lluty@lincs-events.co.uk - 01522 585501
Maggie Taylor at Prima PR
maggie@primapr.co.uk – 01400 251557 / 0797 3767 602
Editor’s Note:
Lincolnshire Events Centre is a major national conferencing venue, home of the Lincolnshire Show and the groundbreaking EPIC project. Just outside the historic city of Lincoln, the Centre hosts events for 10 to 10,000 visitors on its 200 acre showground site and 3000 square metres of indoor exhibition and venue space.
Outdoor events include the flagship Lincolnshire Show, antiques fairs and horse trials, attracting over 200,000 visitors each year. Under cover, there are exhibition halls and conferencing facilities, including the recently completed EPIC centre, the second largest purpose-designed showcase for environmental technologies in the UK, it enables event organisers to reduce, monitor and offset their carbon footprint.
Business gets on board to back this year’s Lincolnshire Show
Big business and small local companies are coming together to help Lincolnshire’s agricultural heritage and education to flourish.
They are all backing the annual County Show, organised by the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society to boost awareness of countryside matters, and the vital role that agriculture plays in the local economy.
It will be the 127th Show, the 52nd to be held at the Grange-de-Lings 200 acre site and the two-day event will take place on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd June 2011.
Billed as Lincolnshire’s big day out, the Lincolnshire Show is an agricultural show, one of the few county shows to remain true to its heritage, and last year attracted more than 68,000 visitors and some 650 exhibitors – both numbers that the organisers hope to beat this year.
“The Show is for everyone living in the countryside, working in the countryside and those who enjoy the countryside,” explained the Show’s business development manager Laura Luty. “It’s really great that local businesses are keen to back us in this way. As a charity, it’s sponsorship like this which allows us to continue to develop the Show. As well as helping us to keep costs down, such as visitor prices, we also inject the sponsorship support into educational activities, such as our Schools’ Challenge, which encourages young people to get involved.”
She added: “Many of our sponsors come year after year, because they know it has a commercial value as well as supporting their place in our local community. We have had an excellent response so far but are still talking to companies that are active across Lincolnshire and the East Midlands region.”
Clydesdale Bank is once again the major sponsor for the Show, Langleys Solicitors and BBC Lincolnshire are jointly sponsoring the equine area, which attracts 2000 entries each year across show jumping, mountain and moorland ponies and ex racehorse classes.
Plans for this year’s Show will be announced soon, but organisers say visitors can be confident they will experience another exciting line-up at the renowned county event, with entertainment that will appeal to all tastes and ages.
As well as the show’s traditional agricultural theme – with events including pig racing, show-jumping, the spectacular Grand Parade of the best of the county’s livestock in the Clydesdale Bank Main Ring and the vintage to modern day agricultural machinery display – there will also be a host of other stalls and activities. Last year’s line up included medieval cooking and world-class jousting knights, through to advice on horticulture and sustainable living.
Sponsor of the Lincoln Red Cattle once again this year is The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation plc (AMC). Adrian Cawood, regional agricultural manager said: "AMC view Lincolnshire as one of the most important and foremost farming counties, and the Lincolnshire Show demonstrates the great commitment and enthusiasm towards farming within the county.
“When the opportunity arose three years ago to sponsor the native breed we were very happy to support it and are delighted to continue sponsor the Lincoln Reds again in 2011."
SHOW IS BIG EARNER
The Show is a big earner for Lincolnshire and research carried out last year showed that a massive £44m is being injected into the national economy thanks to the events held at the Lincolnshire Events Centre at the county’s Showground, attracting over 215,000 visitors a year.
More than 80 per cent of exhibitors return each year because of the amount of business they do at the Show and it is estimated that every £1 spent at the Show generates £20 in the local economy. The Show and other events at the Showground boost local hotels and B&Bs, creating demand for 18,400 overnight stays locally.
“The annual County Show is a major tourism attraction, alongside the city’s Cathedral and Castle,” said chief executive Mark Farmer, “It’s also a big earner for the economy, although it’s not just about the Show nowadays, as we have expanded the Showground site to become a major year-round regional conferencing and outdoor events centre.”
Images and captions from the 2010 County Show are available for download at :http://www.flickr.com/photos/55414176@N07/sets/72157625298289904/
Who’s backing this year’s Show:
| Company: | Sponsoring : |
| Jackie Strange
Private sponsor |
Shire Horses |
| BBC Lincolnshire | Equine Ring |
| Brown Butlin
A trading arm of Farmacy PLC |
Young Farmers’ Trailers |
| Woldmarsh
Farming agricultural buying group, Louth |
Machinery Parade |
| Spaldings
Agricultural and groundcare replacement parts, tools and accessories |
Machinery Parade |
| Streets
UK Top 30 firm of accountants, Lincoln |
Vice President’s Area |
| E Park & Sons Ltd
Potato supplier |
Schools’ Challenge |
| Farmacy PLC
Agronomy and environmental services to arable sector, Sleaford |
Schools’ Challenge |
| Complete Print Group
Printing supplies |
General support |
| Osborne Refrigerators | Double Harness Scurry |
| Brewin Dolphin
Investment solutions, Lincoln |
Parade of Hounds |
| McKinnells
Solicitors, Lincoln |
Courtyard |
| Langleys
Solicitors, Lincoln |
Ancaster Ring |
| Clydesdale Bank | Main Ring |
| Double M Catering
Catering business, Lincolnshire |
General support |
| Lincolnshire Co-op | Lincoln Longwool |
| Lincolnshire Co-op | Commercial Beef |
| Savills
Agricultural and rural estate agency services, Lincoln |
Roadside Signage |
| Swales Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream | British Charolais |
| Agricultural Mortgage Company Plc
Mortgage finance for land based commercial businesses |
Lincoln Red |
| Robert Bell & Co
Auctioneers and Land Agents, Horncastle, Coningsby, Woodhall Spa and Lincoln |
Pig Interbreed Supreme Champion |
| Masons Chartered Surveyors
Property professionals, Louth |
Interbreed Championships |
| Bang & Olufsen
Sound and vision products, Lincoln |
Screens in the EPIC Centre |
| Saul Fairholm
Chartered Accountants and Auditors, Lincoln |
Grand Parade of Livestock |
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Sarah Poucher at Lincolnshire Events Centre inc Lincolnshire Agricultural Society
spoucher@lincs-events.co.uk - 01522 585501
Maggie Taylor at Prima PR
maggie@primapr.co.uk – 01400 251557 / 0797 3767 602
Editor’s Note:
Lincolnshire Events Centre is a major national conferencing venue, home of the Lincolnshire Show and the groundbreaking EPIC project. Just outside the historic city of Lincoln, the Centre hosts events for 10 to 10,000 visitors on its 200 acre showground site and 3000 square metres of indoor exhibition and venue space.
Outdoor events include the flagship Lincolnshire Show, antiques fairs and horse trials, attracting over 200,000 visitors each year. Under cover, there are exhibition halls and conferencing facilities, including the recently completed EPIC centre, the second largest purpose-designed showcase for environmental technologies in the UK, it enables event organisers to reduce, monitor and offset their carbon footprint.
New President will focus on education and sustainability
The new President of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society is a renowned academic figure who is committed to developing education and sustainability in agriculture.
Professor David Chiddick, CBE, former vice chancellor of Lincoln University, declared it a ‘privilege’ to follow in the footsteps of other distinguished Presidents, who have included HRH Princess Anne and the Earl of Yarborough.
Married with three children, Professor Chiddick is now Emeritus Professor at Lincoln University. He is working with the Agricultural Society development committee to bring together the Society, University and other key partners to develop agricultural programmes in a way that best integrates education and community. He will also be focussing his attention on driving sustainability in agriculture, a vitally important theme for the Society.
His interest and involvement in agriculture dates back 20 years to his time as Pro Vice Chancellor at De Montfort University, when he took the lead in rationalising the agricultural training on offer through the three sites in Lincolnshire – at Holbeach, Caythorpe and Riseholme. That process resulted in the consolidation of agricultural education at Riseholme and food sciences at Holbeach, providing a springboard for the college to become part of the new University of Lincoln in 2001 and Holbeach to achieve the distinction as the National Food Manufacturing Centre.
He said: “Education on the Showground site has expanded significantly over recent years, and now brings together agriculture, countryside and community with increasing involvement across higher and further education and amongst schools. Getting more young people involved in understanding the agricultural community in its broadest senses is crucial and we have the facilities to achieve that at the Showground.”
“I grew up in an agricultural community in Norfolk and coming to Lincolnshire with its agricultural heritage was like coming home,” added Professor Chiddick. “I have been involved in the Farm Board in the county for the last 20 years and have seen major changes in agriculture during that time. As President, I am keen to see a successful County Show which drives these vital themes of education and sustainability in agriculture.”
The appointment come at an exciting time for the Society, following the publication of a recent economic impact survey which shows that a massive £44m is being injected into the national economy thanks to the Lincolnshire Events Centre, which attracts over 215,000 visitors a year.
The Lincolnshire Events Centre is the Agricultural Society’s commercial operating arm and brings together agricultural, educational and conferencing activities.
The £7m EPIC Centre at the Showground was opened two years ago, providing a conference and events facility, capable of hosting conferences, balls and seminars, and is designed also as an educational resource and state-of-the-art events centre for up to 1,900 people.
Environmental sustainability is at the core of these recent developments, and is a defining theme of a proposed master-plan now being drawn up for the Showground.
Also leading the Society during 2011 is John Lockwood, who continues in his role as Chairman for a third year. Master of the Burton Hunt and a former High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, he runs the family property company, Castle Square Developments, alongside the family farm.
The Lord Taylor of Holbeach, CBE, has been named President Elect for 2010.
ENDS
559 words
Media enquiries:
Laura Luty at Lincolnshire Events Centre inc Lincolnshire Agricultural Society
lluty@lincs-events.co.uk - 01522 585501
Maggie Taylor at Prima PR
maggie@primapr.co.uk – 01400 251557 / 0797 3767 602
Editor’s Note:
Lincolnshire Events Centre is a major national conferencing venue, home of the Lincolnshire Show and the groundbreaking EPIC project. Just outside the historic city of Lincoln, the Centre hosts events for 10 to 10,000 visitors on its 200 acre showground site and 3000 square metres of indoor exhibition and venue space.
Outdoor events include the flagship Lincolnshire Show, antiques fairs and horse trials, attracting over 200,000 visitors each year. Under cover, there are exhibition halls and conferencing facilities, including the recently completed EPIC centre, the second largest purpose-designed showcase for environmental technologies in the UK, it enables event organisers to reduce, monitor and offset their carbon footprint.
£44m injection that is helping put Lincolnshire on the map
A new economic impact survey has shown that a massive £44m is being injected into the national economy thanks to the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society’s events centre, which attracts over 215,000 visitors a year.
That’s equivalent to £120,000 and over 600 visitors for every single day of the year.
The annual County Show attracted 65,000 visitors in 2010.
Antiques fairs are held six times a year, each attracting 3000 antiques traders from across Europe
Other events range from a reception for 600 guests at an Asian wedding through to smaller events, like board meetings and staff training days.
And, according to the research, which was backed by West Lindsey District Council, the Centre is making a massive contribution to both the local and national economy.
It’s good news for the county against the backdrop of economic recession and public sector cuts, and, says the chief executive Mark Farmer, a big justification for the £1m injection of investment made by the County Council and £250,000 by West Lindsey District Council in 2007, with around half of the income generated staying in the East Midlands economy each year at a value of £22m.
The study was carried out to help guide future growth plans for the Lincolnshire Events Centre, and it demonstrates how successful the Lincolnshire Events Centre has been in attracting big events and boosting tourism.
“The annual County Show is a big earner for the economy and a major tourism attraction, alongside the city’s Cathedral and Castle,” said Mark Farmer, “But it’s not just about the Show nowadays, as we have expanded to become a major year-round regional conferencing and outdoor events centre.”
The £7m EPIC Centre at the Showground was opened two years ago, providing a conference and events facility, capable of hosting conferences, balls and seminars, and is designed also as an educational resource and state-of-the-art events centre for up to 1,900 people. Environmental sustainability is at the core of these recent developments, and is a defining theme of a proposed master-plan now being drawn up for the Showground.
The Show and other events at the Showground boost local hotels and B&Bs too, creating demand for 18,400 overnight stays locally. Around 20% relates to the Show, the balance being drawn by major events such as Arthur Swallows antiques fairs, which draw 3000 traders from across the UK and overseas and attract 72,000 visitors every year. Other big draws are Grapevine, the major national religious festival, the Lincolnshire Steam and Vintage Rally, the Warner Motorhome event and this year, the British Motorcycle Federation season finale.
For the future, the Centre’s forward booking list also includes a number of high profile outdoor music concerts from big name promoters.
As well as the direct economic impact of the Lincolnshire Show, the researchers found that there was a positive financial impact on the schools, churches, charities and voluntary organisations in the area, through their involvement in the annual event.
The Lincolnshire Events Centre is the commercial operating arm of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society.
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Media enquiries:
Laura Luty at Lincolnshire Events Centre inc Lincolnshire Agricultural Society
lluty@lincs-events.co.uk - 01522 585501
Maggie Taylor at Prima PR
maggie@primapr.co.uk – 01400 251557 / 0797 3767 602
Editor’s Note:
Lincolnshire Events Centre is a major national conferencing venue, home of the Lincolnshire Show and the groundbreaking EPIC project. Just outside the historic city of Lincoln, the Centre hosts events for 10 to 10,000 visitors on its 200 acre showground site and 3000 square metres of indoor exhibition and venue space.
Outdoor events include the flagship Lincolnshire Show, antiques fairs and horse trials, attracting over 200,000 visitors each year. Under cover, there are exhibition halls and conferencing facilities, including the recently completed EPIC centre, the second largest purpose-designed showcase for environmental technologies in the UK, it enables event organisers to reduce, monitor and offset their carbon footprint.