Flock to the Show campaign celebrated the return of the world sheep shearing championships to the Royal Highland Show in June
The Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) has launched a raffle for their ‘Flock to the Show’ sheep sculptures, which featured in a popular public art trail earlier this year.
There will be 500 raffle tickets available for each sheep, at a cost of £25 each. The funds raised will support the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland Bicentennial Fund, which supports projects dedicated to sustainability in the rural sector.
The popular ‘Doddie’s Sheep’ will see a minimum of £20 from the sale of each ticket donated to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation – this sheep was decorated by Megan Reilly in the distinctive bright blue and yellow Doddie’5 tartan.
The 38 fibreglass sculptures were decorated by local artists from across the UK in a range of striking designs and travelled around Scotland earlier this year, before flocking home to the Royal Highland Show in June.
The campaign celebrated the return of the Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing & Woolhandling Championships to the Royal Highland Show. Some of the sheep have already been purchased outright so won’t be available in the raffle, but the majority still need to find their forever homes.
RHASS Chairman, Jim Warnock, commented:“The Flock to the Show campaign was a resounding success, bringing joy to people across the length and breadth of Scotland and at the Royal Highland Show.
“We are delighted that our flock raised awareness of important issues in the agri sector and they will continue to do good by being raffled off to raise funds for the RHASS Bicentennial Fund and the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.”
A limited number of early bird discounted tickets to the 2024 Royal Highland Show were released at 6pm last night as the gates closed on this year’s event – which welcomed the world’s best sheep shearers amongst the 217,000 people who flocked to the show over the four days.
The eyes of the world were on Ingliston this year with over 140,000 views across 113 countries on the Show’s streaming platform, RHS TV, to watch show jumping, traditional skill displays, livestock judging and of course the excitement around the Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing & Woolhandling Championships.
And for those who are already planning a return to the Show next year, a limited number of Super Early Bird tickets for the 2024 Royal Highland Show (20th – 23rd June) will be released today via the Show’s website (royalhighlandshow.org), priced at just £30 with children 15 and under free to attend.
Celebrating the best of Scotland’s food, farming and rural life, high-profile figures attending included: HRH Anne, the Princess Royal; First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf; Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affair, Mark Spencer; Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack; and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, Mairi Gougeon.
26,500 children attended for free in line with the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) charitable remit – this includes school visits organised by the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) and kids aged 15 and under free entry tickets.
Ian Georgeson Photography
Highlights for this year’s show included over 280 trophies, awarded to the over 5,000 cattle, sheep, horses, and goats competing. Including the Queen’s Cup that went to the Hanna family from Northern Ireland, a back-to-back winner for the first time.
The Flock to the Show campaign also concluded at the Show – after travelling the length and breadth of Scotland, the 38 decorated sculptures came together to form a trail around the Showground. The Flock will be auctioned off on 7th September, with all proceeds going towards the RHASS Bicentenary Fund, which supports projects in the rural sector dedicated to mental health, sustainability, succession, and women in agriculture.
Furthermore, respected industry accolades were awarded to agri-tech pioneers in the RHASS Technical Innovation Awards, sponsored by Hillhouse Group. Murray Machinery and Lely UK won Gold awards this year.
The Scottish Championships saw food and drink producers and craftspeople recognised for outstanding produce across competitions in Dairy, Honey, and Handcrafts categories – with St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Co and Graham’s the Family Dairy amongst the winners.
The Royal Highland Hoolie was a new addition to the evening entertainment schedule on the Friday and Saturday nights. Presented in partnership with Farmers Bash, the Hoolie saw country music legends like Skipinnish, Skerryvore and Derek Ryan perform to the 4500 strong crowds.
The Royal Highland Show is the flagship fundraising event for organisers the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS).
RHASS Head of Show, David Tennant, commented: “As we wrap up another phenomenal Royal Highland Show, we are delighted to have welcomed a record-breaking number of visitors pass through the gates.
“The strong demand is testament to the fact that the Show has major appeal way beyond the loyal farming community – anyone and everyone can find something to enjoy, no matter your interest.
“Our thanks go out to the hundreds of staff who make this possible, and the RHASS Directors who give up their time year-round to make this incredible event possible. And, if you had a great day out this year, the good news is you can grab a bargain with the Super Early Bird tickets for 2024, on sale now.”
Sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland, next year’s Royal Highland Show will take place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, 20-23 June 2024.
Families enjoyed complimentary ice cream, face painting and origami rooster folding lessons at the Royal Highland Show this weekend at Royal Bank of Scotland’s Ingliston branch.
Royal Bank of Scotland, which sponsors the Royal Highland Show, was on hand to bring the fun and advise families of the support offered by Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest Rooster Money – an innovative pocket money app that allows parents to manage their children’s allowance via their phones while instilling positive money management habits.
NatWest Rooster Money’s recent Pocket Money Index – a study of over 125,000 children – reveals that kids’ average earnings have increased by 11% since 2022, outpacing inflation for the same period.
However, instead of sticking to regular recurring payments, parents are now more often offering one-off payments and using special occasions and good behaviour as opportunities for handing out extra pocket money.
ICE CREAM lovers attending the Royal Highland Show can get their hands on samples of some weird and wonderful ice cream flavours including Pink Panther; Kaffir Honey & Cereal; and Dragon fruit and Watermelon sorbet.
Following an intense development process working with consultant chefs, Mackie’s of Scotland is bringing 77 giant tubs filled with 26 new and exciting flavours to the Edinburgh event on 22 June to 25 June, range from fruity mash-ups to reimaginings of popular sweet treats.
The Scottish ice cream firm hopes to gauge public response – and will put the most popular flavours into its 19.2 parlour in Aberdeen. The feedback may even steer its next flavour launch to hit supermarket freezer aisles.
Mackie’s, which has a stand within the Scotland’s larder tent, hopes visitors will be adventurous with their scoop choices, with the weather set to remain warm and mostly sunny.
Angus Hayhow, Head of Marketing at Mackie’s of Scotland, said: “We have been attending the Royal Highland Show for a decades now, so it’s great to be back once again.
“The team are constantly working on ways to diversify our products and bring innovation, and what better place to showcase them out than at Scotland’s biggest annual agricultural show. The visitors are always an enthusiastic audience at our stall!
“This year’s flavours are made to cater to a variety of tastes with some more traditional mango, strawberry and chocolate-based flavours to some more unusual creations, with a host of dairy and gluten free options as well.”
“We hope that this year’s flavours follow in the footsteps of our other playful ice cream launches and create a buzz to match the atmosphere of the weekend.”
Mackie’s, which is a family run business, has been producing ice cream since 1986, all of which is carefully crafted using milk and dairy from its Aberdeenshire farm.
The list of flavours available at the show include; Dragonfruit & Watermelon Sorbet, Kefir, Honey & Cereals, Quark Cherry Cheesecake, Orange & Mascarpone, Jaffa Cake, Blackcurrant & Liquorice, Lotus Biscoff, chocolate rum truffle, After Eight and Mackie’s twist.
The Royal Highland Show sees over 1000 yearly trade exhibitors to the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh, displaying the best of farming, livestock, machinery and technical innovation across Scotland.
The Royal Highland Show is gearing up for the 2023 event taking place this week from Thursday 22nd – Sunday 25th June at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston.
The country’s largest agricultural event returns for a four-day celebration of the very best in food, farming and rural life. Visitors can expect to get nose-to-nose with prize animals, taste an astounding array of artisan food & drink and experience Scotland’s rural life at its most vibrant.
What’s new this year
The Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing and Woolhandling Championships is an exciting addition to the show schedule for this year. Competitors from 30 countries from around the world including New Zealand, South Africa and Chile will battle it out on the stage to claim the championship – this thrilling display of skill is a must-watch on the Saturday and Sunday of the Show.
The Royal Highland Show will also see the culmination of the popular ‘Flock to the Show’ campaign, which saw 38 hand-painted fibreglass sheep travel around Scotland over the last couple of months.
Come and find our flock at the Show, starting at the Macklin Motors stand in the Lifestyle Area, and travel around the Showground to see if you can find all the Flock and the clues attached to them. Enter the competition once you know the winning phrase and you could be in with a chance of winning a year’s supply of Taylor’s Crisps.
The colourful Flock will be auctioned off in September this year to raise funds for the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland’s (RHASS) Bicentennial Fund. The bidding process will be launched at this year’s Royal Highland Show, so make sure if you want to purchase one of the Flock you keep a look out for more information.
Register your interest in an individual flock member here:
The new Agri Innovation Arena, located within the Agricultural Zone, will showcase some of the newest and most innovative products and machinery close up, with live demos and industry talks from leaders across all sectors of the agricultural industry.
We have brand-new poles for this year’s Pole Climbing Championships. These have been donated in kind by Kirkennan Estate, Palnackie which is managed by Scottish Woodlands. In May this year, these 90ft poles were transported from Dumfries & Galloway to our Forestry Arena by Cadzow Heavy Haulage Ltd. Make sure you check out our new poles in action at this year’s Show.
Fantastic food & drink
The Royal Highland Show is a haven for food lovers – from the tasty delights of Scotland’s Larder food area to the huge range of takeaway options throughout the showground, visitors are spoiled for choice.
Scotland’s Larder will be brimming with delicious food and drinks. Some are brand new to the market in Scotland, while others, like Glenkinchie, are global brands. Take the chance to meet the producers and hear first-hand from them why they love their products as much as we do. Don’t forget to check out The Bothy situated in the centre of Scotland’s Larder, with all produce supplied by Mimi’s Bakehouse.
The Show’s Food Charter ensures that only locally produced and ethically sourced food is served at the Show – from delicious venison burgers and tasty fish and chips to a bowl of Scottish strawberries bursting with flavour.
The Food for Thought theatre also offers an interesting schedule of events to attend, including chef demonstrations from names including ‘The Kilted Chef’ Craig Wilson, MasterChef finalist Sarah Rankin, award-winning development chef Paul Terris, and head chef of The Crown Hotel in Peebles, Kirsty Elliot. Celebrating how Scottish food & drink has been enjoyed over the last 200 years is a key theme this year, alongside how science has helped develop and progress this industry.
If learning speciality techniques is more your thing, then don’t miss out on Innis & Gunn’s Masterclass with Master Brewer & Founder, Dougal Sharp, and masterclasses in all things meat and butchery from the experts at Quality Meat Scotland.
Innis & Gunn remains the Show’s official brewery partner and principal beer supplier and official sponsor of the Royal Highland Hoolie. This year you can hear from some of the Innis & Gunn team themselves in their beer and brewing masterclass in the Food for Thought Theatre.
This year the Royal Highland Show has launched its own special ‘Golden Shears’ lager with Caledonian Brewing. This will be available in bars across the Showground.
Lovely livestock and competitions
Of course, the stars of the Show are the animals, and there will be over 5,000 of the finest animals competing over the four days. Sheep, cattle, goats, horses – there’s so much to see!
From the adorable Shetland Pony to the majestic Clydesdale, there is so much to delight equine lovers. The showjumping Grand Prix is always a spectacle, as are the exciting Pony Club Games, as well as the incredible sight of the harness, grooming & decoration classes.
The Show offers a unique chance to see top-quality livestock up close, including the iconic Highland Cattle and ‘the world’s cutest sheep’, the Valais Blacknose. Over 5,000 animals will be competing – including 1,044 cattle, 2,089 sheep, 2,087 horses & ponies, and 140 goats.
This year at the Royal Highland Show, 57 Horse of the Year Qualifiers will take place, offering a variety of opportunities to qualify for the prestigious event held in Birmingham.
Alongside the livestock and equine classes, there are numerous other competitions to witness. New for this year, the Scottish Dairy Championships display will be situated in the Food for Thought Theatre.
Step inside the Handcraft Marquee and witness some of Scotland’s finest handcrafts with this year’s competition theme being ‘Rainbow’. The Honey Marquee, located in the Countryside Area is not to be missed, as well as hosting a range of honey and bee related competitions.
Entertainment for the whole family
There is truly something for everyone at the Royal Highland Show. Away from the animal stalls and food tent, there’s plenty to catch your attention – from the thrilling heights of the Pole Climbing Championships, Chainsaw Carving Demonstrations, Axe Throwing and fingernail-biting mountain bike skills in the Forestry Arena.
To the more relaxed Countryside Area, where kids can try out circus skills, take Annie the Alpaca for a walk, get their face painted, learn some traditional woodcraft and wildlife tracking skills and let off steam on the play equipment.
The Agri Innovation Arena is a new addition for 2023 and is designed as a platform for showcasing the innovative machinery and technology that is shaping the future of agriculture. Visitors will see the very latest tech on display and in action – a must for machinery enthusiasts!
Meanwhile, qualifiers for Britain’s Fittest Farmer competition will be taking place on the Sunday of the Show in the Agri Innovation Arena. Launched by Farmers Weekly in 2018, it is a fun way of sparking a vital discussion about the physical and mental health of the nation’s farmers.
Prepare for off-road fun with the Land Rover Experience Scotland, with an adventurous driving experience at the Show. Strap in and be ready for a bumpy ride as expert drivers demonstrate to you just what these fantastic vehicles are capable of.
One of the many hubs for kids at the Show is the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) Discovery Centre, where kids can learn all about the production of food, explore the life of the soil, plant some seeds, bake some scones and even milk Mable, the fibreglass cow all in an interactive and fun environment.
If you can’t visit the Show this year, then luckily the Show can still come to you through the RHS TV, available to watch on the Royal Highland Show website all four days of the Show – with a special Golden Shears channel on Saturday and Sunday. With cameras streaming videos live from the showground, you can tune in wherever you are in the world to join in the action and experience a taste of the Show.
Visitors are also encouraged to make use of the Royal Highland Show App to make the most of their day out – through it, you can view the Show programme, competition schedules and access a handy interactive map of the showground. New for this year, you can search for your favourite trade stand using the search bar in the app, explore the entire Showground at the click of a button, and don’t forget to check out RHS merchandise in the online store as well.
Music & fashion
The Royal Highland Hoolie, hosted in partnership with Farmer’s Bash, is an exciting addition to evening entertainment this year.
Taking place on the Friday and Saturday evenings of the Show, it will showcase some of Scotland and Ireland’s best homegrown music talent.
Skippinish, Derek Ryan, Skerryvore and Lisa McHugh feature in the line-up for what is shaping up to be a fantastic couple of nights. Tickets to the Royal Highland Hoolie are still available and can be purchased on the day or in addition to your Show ticket.
Tickets for the Royal Highland Hoolie can only be purchased by those already attending the Royal Highland Show and have purchased a ticket for Friday 23 or Saturday 24th June. The Hoolie is only for those aged 12 and over, under 18s must be accompanied by an adult over 21.
Fashion lovers are in for a treat with a fashion show by British Wool taking place this year. It will showcase the best of British wool across a wide range of brands including Harris Tweed and Lochcarron of Scotland. There will also be exclusive discounts at the Show across a range of British wool brands.
Across the four days of the Show, we will have a fantastic line-up of traditional ceilidh bands, pipe bands and choirs, including Ian Muir Ceilidh Band who is a frequent visitor to RHS and guest on BBC Radio Scotland’s Take the Floor as well as Pipe Bands from West Lothian, Perth & Kinross and South Queensferry and the wonderful Farmers Choir. Head over to the West Stage where you can hear all of this and more from some of Scotland’s best jazz, folk-rock and bagpipes.
Getting there
A comprehensive travel plan is in place to ensure visitors can get to and from the Royal Highland Show as efficiently as possible.
Hopping on public transport remains the easiest and most sustainable option for getting to the Showground. You can travel by Edinburgh Trams all the way from Leith, through the City Centre to Ingliston Park and Ride where a shuttle bus will take you straight to the Showground.
Travelling by bus, Lothian Buses will have the 97 and 98 services running from Central Edinburgh direct to the Showground. It is best to book your ticket in advance, services for the bus and tram start at 6am.
If visitors do want to take the car, booking your parking tickets in advance is required – there will be no parking tickets available on the day.
The Royal Highland Show is the flagship fundraising event for organisers the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS).
RHASS Head of Show, David Tennant, commented: “More than just a fantastic day out, the Royal Highland Show offers an invaluable insight into the story of Scotland’s food, farming and rural life.
“There is truly something for everyone, whether you are interested in animals, machinery, food, or music – and you’re always sure to discover something that you’ve never seen before.
“With Friday and Saturday tickets selling out last year and the very last few remaining for this year’s event, we’d recommend purchasing soon if you haven’t already to avoid last-minute disappointment!
Sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland, the Royal Highland Show will take place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, on 22-25 June 2023.
Tickets, including for car parking, must be pre-purchased online, with no tickets available to buy on the gate. Tickets are limited in number and it is advised to purchase early – especially with the new addition of the Royal Highland Hoolie music event on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th this year.
Friday and Saturday tickets for the Royal Highland Show have now sold out following huge demand for the event taking place later this week at Ingliston (22-25 June).
Royal Highland Education TrustChairman Alistair Marshall is currently covering hundreds of miles over eight days to raise funds for the education charity RHET.
His challenge started at Stobhill Primary, Gorebridge last Tuesday morning, and Alistair is now making his way around all 13 RHET areas across Scotland before arriving at the Royal Highland Showground at Ingliston on Wednesday.
Thanks to the incredible support for individuals and businesses, the initial target of £10k has been smashed and is currently sitting at over double! NFU Mutual are the lead sponsor for the challenge, with Graham’s Dairies, Kite Consulting, Hillhouse Group, Scottish Blackface Sheep Association and SRUC amongst the next tier supporters.
Alistiar explained: “Keeping our services free of charge for schools is so important to RHET as it helps us to take the classroom to the countryside, for pupils and schools all over Scotland.
‘This challenge was inspired by our previous chair George Lawrie who took a tractor on tour round Scotland in 2019 and who doesn’t love a bit of friendly competition to inspire a great cause!
“My wife Fiona is cycling with me on the road and we are being joined by RHET volunteers and sponsors, and vintage tractor escorts along the way”.
Accompanying Alistair is ‘Sky’, one of the RHS ‘Flock to the Show’ sheep who was the winning design by Daniel Threlkeld from Eaglesfield School. Dumfries artist Tricia from Falu Studios adorned Sky with the colourful rural scenes chosen by the judges out of over 1,600 entries.
The winning prize for his design is a free trip to the Royal Highland Show for the whole school. Sky will be auctioned by RHET at their gala dinner next February to keep the fundraising live.
If you would like to support the chairman’s cycle challenge, there is a dedicated JustGiving page:
or scan the QR code if you are visiting the Royal Highland Show this week.
You will be able to see Sky and the other Flock to the Show sheep who will be dotted around the showground as part of a trail for all the family to enjoy.
The Royal Highland Show is calling for applications to feature in its ‘Agri-Demo Arena’, a new addition to the showground this year.
The Agri-Demo Arena will be a platform for showcasing the innovative machinery and technology that is shaping the future of agriculture.
The arena will be a hub for the Show’s agricultural zone, the space will feature an outdoor demonstration arena and indoor marquee. Slots are free to apply for, and businesses can choose to host either a product demonstration or an industry talk.
The Agri-Demo Arena will also be home to the winners of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) Technical Innovation Awards.
Earlier this week, the Royal Highland Show opened applications to businesses already exhibiting at the Show or that have entered the Technical Innovation Awards. Applications must fit into one of the following categories: Machines; Appliances; Technical Components; or Important Ancillary Equipment.
The new arena has received a strong number of applications from a wide variety of companies already, providing a positive start for this new and exciting element of the Royal Highland Show.
Applications have been sent to exhibitors, if you have not received the communication or are interested in applying please email the trade stand team at tradestands@rhass.org.uk.
RHASS Chief Steward of Technical Innovation, Christo Shepherd, said: “We are delighted to be shining a spotlight on those companies at the forefront of agricultural innovation this year with our new Agri-Demo Arena.As part of the RHASS mission to support and promote agriculture, this area will bring attention to the exciting products that are shaping the future of our sector.
“I would encourage our exhibitors to apply and have their products front and centre on the global stage that is the Royal Highland Show.”
Sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland, the Royal Highland Show will take place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, on 22-25 June 2023.
Tickets, including car parking, must be pre-purchased online, with no tickets available to buy on the gate.
Tickets are limited in number and with Friday and Saturday selling out in 2022, it is advised to purchase early, especially with the new addition of the Royal Highland Hoolie music event on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th this year.
For further information and to purchase tickets please visit:
Skipinnish has been announced as the Friday headline act at the Royal Highland Hoolie, taking place at the Royal Highland Show and hosted in partnership with the legendary Irish country music promoter Farmer’s Bash.
The Royal Highland Hoolie, taking place Friday 23 and Saturday 24 June 2023, will showcase some of Scotland and Ireland’s best homegrown music talent. The group will be joining fellow artists including Derek Ryan, Skerryvore and Lisa McHugh.
With a strong mix of powerful bagpipe, fiddle and accordion-led tune sets, Skipinnish encompasses the very best of contemporary Celtic Music. Celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2019, the band have been going from strength to strength, selling out some of the biggest venues in Scotland.
The band are looking forward to returning to the Scottish festival circuit in 2023 kicking it all off with the Royal Highland Hoolie, the band’s only summer Scottish gig.
Skipinnish co-founder, Andrew Stevenson, commented: “The band are thrilled to be playing at the Royal Highland Hoolie this June.
“We can’t wait to bring the Skipinnish sound to headline at the Royal Highland Hoolie and the Royal Highland Show, while joining a fantastic line up of fellow musicians flying the flag for modern Celtic music.”
More artists and event information are to be announced next month.
Tickets for Friday 23 and Saturday 24 June are now on sale. Tickets are only available to those already attending or who purchase a Friday or Saturday ticket to the Royal Highland Show. Tickets can be purchased at royalhighlandshow.org. Ticketing T&Cs apply.
Jim Warnock, Chairman of Royal Highland Show organisers, the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), commented: “We are delighted to see more fantastic acts added and reveal Celtic rock band Skipinnish as a headliner. The Royal Highland Hoolie is a celebration of Celtic and country music, from traditional to modern and everything in between.
“We have seen a high demand for tickets this year so far, and with this latest addition to the line-up it looks to be a fantastic couple of nights!”
Farmers Bash organiser, Nigel Campbell, added: “Skipinnish is the perfect addition to the line-up for the Royal Highland Hoolie – with a unique mix of highland tradition and contemporary music, they will be sure to get the crowd going!
“We look forward to announcing even more stellar acts in the coming weeks for what will be a fantastic celebration of modern Celtic music.”
The campaign celebrates the return of the Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing & Woolhandling Championships to the Royal Highland Show, which takes place 22nd-25th June 2023.
The art trail features over 35 specially designed sheep sculptures, decorated by artists from across the UK. Designed to engage visitors of all ages, the trail will also raise awareness of different causes related to farming, including regenerative agriculture, rural isolation and climate change.
Artists who designed a sheep include Charlotte Brayley from Comrie, Perthshire, whose art project on her pet sheep, Alan, helped pay for her wedding, and Megan Reilly from Hamliton, South Lanarkshire, who designed the ‘Shepherds Delight’ sheep and has painted over 1000 murals in her artistic career.
As part of the campaign, there will be four opportunities, one in each area, to win a VIP Royal Highland Show experience for all the family – available for children and adults of all ages to enter. Budding artists can download a sheep outline from the Royal Highland Show website and create their own design to be in with a chance of winning. Information on how to enter can be found in the Flock to the Show section of the Royal Highland Show website.
Following the tour, the flock shall return to the Royal Highland Show during the Golden Shears in June this year, which will be the only time the sheep sculptures will gather together in one location.
The flock will then be auctioned at a gala dinner in September to raise funds that will support the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland Bicentennial Fund, which supports projects dedicated to sustainability in the rural sector.
The tour will cover four main areas – Aberdeenshire and Inverness; Dundee, Fife and Perthshire; Strathclyde and Dumfries & Galloway; and Lothian and the Scottish Borders.
Details of the tour areas can be found below.
Aberdeenshire and Inverness: 3rd – 16th April
Locations include: Eastgate Shopping Centre, Ballater Visitor Centre; Aviemore Visitor Centre; Douneside House; Logie Farm Steading; and John O’Groats Visitor Centre.
Stirling, Dundee, Fife and Perthshire: 18thth – 30th April
Locations include: House of Bruar; Gloagburn Farm Shop; Visit Scotland iCentre St Andrews; Falkirk Wheel; Loch Leven’s Larder; and the Kelpies Visitor Centre.
Strathclyde, Dumfries & Galloway and Glasgow: 2nd – 14th May
Locations include: Buchanan Galleries; Glasgow Queen Street train station; Gretna Green; and SRUC Barony.
Lothians and the Scottish Borders: 16th–30th May
Locations include: St James Quarter; Edinburgh Waverley Train Station, Drift, North Berwick; Melrose Rugby Club; and Craigies Farm.
The Royal Highland Show takes place 22 – 25 June 2023, tickets are on sale now at: royalhighlandshow.org
Jim Warnock, Chairman of Royal Highland Show organisers, the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), commented: “We are very much looking forward to seeing our flock out and about across Scotland.
“Not only does Flock to the Show celebrate the return of the Golden Shears to the Royal Highland Show, but it will also shine a spotlight on some important causes in the agricultural and rural sectors.
“We hope that everyone will get involved and pay a visit to our flock when they arrive in your region – with such a brilliant and diverse range of designs from talented artists, visitors won’t be disappointed!”
Neil McIntosh, Editor of The Scotsman, Flock to the Show’s Media Partner, added: “The Scotsman team are delighted to support the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland as Media Partner of its Flock to the Show nationwide art trail and the 2023 Golden Shears Sheep Shearing & Woolhandling World Championships.
“Our partnership will help inspire our audience to learn more about Scottish agriculture, rural life and the vital work of RHASS.
“We call upon our loyal readers and corporate partners to get behind these fantastic initiatives and in turn support the very best standards in agriculture, forestry and stewardship of our countryside.”
Commenting on the Flock to the Show campaign, Minister for Environment and Land Reform Mairi McAllan MSP said: “The prestigious ‘Golden Shears’ competition taking place in Edinburgh this year highlights the high international standing of Scotland’s agricultural industry.
“Our rural communities should be rightly proud of that reputation, and this exhibition is an important way of celebrating their success. I hope it can help to encourage more young people into what is an essential, thriving, and highly regarded sector, to learn important skills, and even become qualified shearers.
“The innovative exhibition is also a unique and creative way of drawing attention to important agricultural issues – such as the cost of living and doing business, rural isolation, animal health and welfare, and the climate and nature emergencies. Through our Vision for Agriculture, we are committed to supporting our rural communities through these challenges towards a more sustainable, diverse and flourishing future.”
Report finds Royal Highland Show contributes more to Edinburgh’s economy than Hogmanay celebrations
An independent economic impact report commissioned by the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) has found that the Royal Highland Show contributes £39.5 million annually to Edinburgh’s economy – more than Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations.
Held every year in June, the event attracts in the region of 200,000 visitors across four days to celebrate the best of Scotland’s food, farming and rural life. Appealing to both rural and urban audiences, the Show is a major marketing platform for producers, exhibitors and businesses from across Scotland and the wider UK.
Staged in Ingliston at the Royal Highland Centre, the Royal Highland Show sees up to 6,000 animals competing, with other attractions including a food & drink hall, Scotland’s Larder, sheep shearing, musical entertainment, rural crafts, forestry, show jumping, machinery and educational experiences. The Royal Bank of Scotland is a long-term partner of the Show, having been its headline sponsor for 41 years.
With an average visitor spend of £147, the Show is a key sales opportunity for exhibitors. Visitors spent more on accommodation (21%) than any other expenditure category, with overnight visitors typically staying in Edinburgh for 2.5 nights. This is closely followed by spending on food and drink on site, and other spending (both 19%). This other spending includes purchases of agricultural equipment.
This is the first time that the economic impact of the Show has been assessed on a comparable basis to Festivals Edinburgh.
Carried out by BOP Consulting, it finds that the Show generated additional output in Edinburgh of £39.5m – with this corresponding to a Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) employment of 674. The Show has a wide reach, with 74% of visitors travelling from across Scotland to attend.
Royal Highland Show 2022
RHASS Director of Operations, Mark Currie, commented: “The economic impact and reach of the Royal Highland Show is significant, and this report demonstrates the importance of the Show as one of Scotland’s largest and most well-attended events.
“Visitors and exhibitors come from far and wide to connect, be entertained, to sell and to buy, and it is widely acknowledged to be the best platform for rural Scottish businesses in the country.
“We are fortunate to have a loyal and engaged audience, and one that is only growing as the Show evolves into a truly global event – this year more than 200,000 people from around the world tuned in to watch the Show online.”
The winner of Aldi’s Supermarket Sweep in Whitburn has raised a record-breaking £1519.28 for a local foodbank, while picking up £759.64 in Aldi favourites for himself.
Aldi’s popular Supermarket Sweep recently arrived in Whitburn and lucky shopper Scott Gibson, who was chosen as the winner of a competition after entering at Aldi’s tent at the 200th Royal Highland Show in June, took part in the five-minute trolley dash for charity on 4th of September.
As well as taking home a trolley full of goodies, Scott successfully found the hidden inflatable in store, meaning Aldi Scotland doubled the total value of his haul and donated the lump sum to his nominated charity, West Lothian Foodbank.
Aldi Supermarket Sweep winner, Scott Gibson, said:“I want to say thanks to Aldi for such a fun evening. When I entered the supermarket sweep competition at the Royal Highland Show, I didn’t expect such a challenge!
“The staff were so friendly, and I am delighted to have raised such a great amount for the local foodbank.”
Kathleen Neilly, West Lothian Foodbank manager, said:“I would like to say thank you to Aldi Scotland for providing us with support during these hard times all of this donation will be used to buy food to help our local people that’s in a crisis.”
Richard Holloway, Regional Managing Director for Scotland, said:“We are proud that the Aldi Supermarket Sweep is a firm favourite across the country, and we are so pleased to have brought it back this year.
“Congratulations to Scott who managed to raise an incredible £1519.28 for West Lothian Foodbank and snap up a whole load of Aldi treats for himself.”
