When it started as a small show at Queensberry House in Edinburgh’s Canongate in December 1882, The Scotsman reported: ‘ .. between sixty and seventy five cattle were exhibited. There were also eight New Leicester sheep and two beautiful pigs.’ The Royal High Show now attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually and celebrates it’s 175th Show this week …
The Royal Highland Show, one of Scotland’s most iconic and enduring annual events, is ready to welcome visitors to its 175th Show, which runs from 18 -21 June 2015 at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston.
Billed as the biggest and best celebration of farming, food and rural life,
the ‘Royal Highland’ is one of Europe’s most impressive rural shop
windows, showcasing handpicked livestock, the finest food & drink and
rural living at its most vibrant.
The Royal Bank of Scotland, partners of the Show since 1981, maintain
their support for the four-day event, which attracted in excess of 178,000
people in 2014.
Scotland’s Larder Live!
This year sees the launch of Scotland’s Larder Live! at the Royal
Highland Show. Showcasing the diverse range of quality Scottish farmed
produce it will be a live, experiential food show, promoting and
celebrating our Scottish food provenance, regionality and seasonality.
The event will relaunch food at the Highland, build interactivity and
visitor engagement and bring to life the consumer message that ‘farming
equals food’. Scotland’s Larder Live! will be lively, informative and
interactive, full of the smells, sights and tastes of Scotland. The Cookery
Theatre will have a theatrical element, with chefs being challenged to
whip up a dish against the clock. Tastings and talks will feature some of
our finest producers and plenty of audience engagement and
participation. Follow the clues around the event and enter the Scotland’s
Larder Live! competition to win a selection of goodies from some of
Scotland’s top producers.
2015 will be the second year of the Show’s industry leading Food
Charter, an initiative that sees on-site caterers and the show’s other food
partners use, where possible, only ingredients that are locally produced
and ethically sourced. Only a small number of companies from 2014
have not make the grade, demonstrating the show already serves to
showgoers a huge number of responsibly sourced Scottish produce.
The loveliest of livestock
The Royal Highland’s big attraction is without doubt the livestock, with
more than 5,000 of the finest cattle, sheep, goats, horses and poultry,
heading for the showground over the four-day event. However, there will
be other furry friends entertaining and enticing showgoers over the 4
days of the Show, including Elite Falconry, the Sealpin Gundogs and
Fife Foxhounds, who can all be found in the Countryside Area.
Hooved heaven
The Royal Highland Show is the largest equestrian show in Scotland
with almost 3,000 horses and ponies competing in classes for light and
heavy horses, private driving, heavy horse turnouts, harness and
grooming plus top class show jumping.
The Highland offers an impressive array of equine sections and classes,
38 categories in total, including nine much sought after Horse of the
Year Show (HOYS) qualifiers. Over 2,200 riders are expected to
compete over the four days.
With a challenging International Stairway class – which allows British
Show Jumping to monitor up and coming riders and horses – a vibrant
top class show jumping section, seven championship Final classes and
a total prize fund of £45,000, the Royal Highland is undoubtedly
Scotland’s premier equestrian event.
An agricultural shop window
With the vast majority of agricultural manufacturers, dealers and
specialists represented at the Show, farmers and others in the
agricultural sector have a unique opportunity to review the latest
releases and developments.
Over the four days of the Highland, visitors will be able to explore a
diverse range of contemporary farm equipment, machinery and
techniques and get up to the minute, relevant advice and support.
The place to do business
As well as playing a significant role in supporting the Scottish agricultural
industry, the Highland also has a much wider economic impact – £47.1
million in 2014 – and plays a key role as a forum to highlight and discuss
some of the crucial issues affecting Scotland today. The 2014 Show saw
top figures involved in the Scottish Referendum using the event as
opportunity to promote their manifestos; and in the 2015 the Show will
come a month after the General Election.
Grass roots learning
This year over 30,000 children are expected to visit the Royal Highland
Show where The Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) is providing
free interactive activities for school groups and the public at the
Education Centre.
The Centre will be split into two sections one focusing on food with
cooking, cheese tasting, seafood sampling and much more on the menu.
The other focusing on farming where children can learn about livestock,
cereals and celebrating the Year of Soils can take part in two soil based
activities.
Retail therapy
The Show offers a unique ‘High Street’ experience for all visitors,
offering everything from luxury fashions, arts, crafts and home and
garden accessories. Visitors will have the chance to pick up the latest
country styles or take home a piece of rural life.
RHASS president for 2015, Lord Forsyth, is looking forward to this week’s events: “In the 18th century the Highland Society fought for roads
and bridges to revive rural Scotland. Today’s communication challenge
is digital and access to fast broadband and reliable mobile coverage is
vital to the future prosperity of our countryside. I am immensely proud to
have been elected President, in this, the Royal Highland and Agricultural
Society of Scotland’s 175th year, and look forward to continuing its
tradition of connecting town and country.”
The Royal Highland Show takes place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh from Thursday June 18 to Sunday June 21.
www.royalhighlandshow.org.uk
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