Kitchen Table Projects Visit the South of England Show 2014

This weekend Kitchen Table Projects headed down to the South of England Show in Ardingly, West Sussex. Despite some initial doubts after a morning downpour that left us reaching despondently for our wellies, by the time we arrived at the showground the sun had made a welcome return and left us with smiles on our faces and ready for the day ahead.

And what a beautiful day it turned out to be! Not only was the weather perfect, but the show was really fab and it was great to see so much support for British farmers, makers and produce. Giving makers and producers the opportunity to attend shows like this really gives them the chance to tell their stories and shout out about how fab their products are. It was wonderful to see so many people passionate about such a variety of produce. The showground was huge, showcasing a huge variety of produce, products and animals. From pigs to pygmy goats, bees to handcrafted beer- you name it, they had it!

There was also loads of events that took place throughout the day, and as we visited the show on the last day, we were lucky enough to see the final prize winning breeds and meet their farmers. My favorite had to be one of the prize-winning Highland calves; how can you not fall in love with this little guy!

Other noteworthy events that took place during the day included sheep shearing and horse shoeing demonstrations, as well as a number of horse trials, including a Shetland Pony Grand National (don’t be fooled- they might be small but they sure are fast!)

Nor did we leave the show with empty stomachs. With two huge food halls and markets, there was a huge variety of treats to satisfy even the most diverse foodie tastes! There was plenty on offer to taste and purchase; shout out to the man on the Wrights Original Stall selling the delicious lemonade and ginger syrups- you were so friendly and enthusiastic, and it was lovely to see someone put so much passion into selling their products.

By 6pm the crowds were thinning, the sun was beginning to disappear behind the South Down, and it was time to make our way home. We had such a fantastic day...we’re already looking forward to next year!