Crowds flock to Shropshire County Show - PICTURES

Just across the River Severn from the centre of Shrewsbury, the show brought the best of the countryside into the county town.

Roads leading the the showground saw a steady stream of vehicles arriving throughout the day while others chose to arrive by ferry across the river.

The main ring entertainment drew crowds several deep along the perimeter, particularly for the popular monster trucks demonstration.

Chief executive, Ian Bebbington, said the day proved there was still an appetite for the County Show.

“The Shrewsbury and West Midland Agricultural Society has been going since 1875 and, while there have been a few changes we are still here and still in demand. There is a great atmosphere as we celebrate our town meets country event.”

Mr Bebbington said the show spanned the generations with vintage machinery still a huge draw but also exhibits including solar and other renewable energy.

“For the first time this year all our waste is recyclable,” he said.

WATCH: Crowds enjoy this year's Shropshire County Show

Some of the oldest exhibits were the steam engines from the County of Salop Steam Engine and Society.

Andrew Goddard from Kinnerley said his sons were the fourth generation of his family to enjoy the hobby.

“My grandfather Frank bought our steam engine, which was made in 1902, in 1964 and passed it onto my father, David who passed it on to us.

“The show society kindly hosted one of our events earlier this year so today we are raising money for the show charity and Lingen Davies with trailer rides and also promoting our Shrewsbury Steam Rally in August.”

In the livestock competitions were were plenty of local winners and exhibitors.

Stuart Gamble from Aston-on-Clun took best male and breed champion in the Southdown Sheep competition.

“I wanted Clun sheep but while I was looking some Southdown came up for sale and we haven’t looked back," he said.

Laura Astley won the Ayrshire calf section with six month old Dewdrop.

The 23-year-old farms at Deytheur near Llansantffraid with her brother William and parents, Philip and Jane.

She returned to full-time farming when her father suffered heart problems.

“I had missed the farm, all I wanted to do was get back to full time farming,” she said.

It is also a family affair for the winners of the Holstein heifer and Holstein calf, showed by brother and sister Robert and Caity Higgins.

Other young livestock producers showing were siblings, Emily and Tom Morgan from Haughmond with their Shropshire sheep.

Emily, 22, uses her skills as a hairdresser at Zest in Shrewsbury to ensure her sheep’s coats look perfect for the judges.

Among the stall holders at the show were the Shropshire Wildlife Trust that works with farmers to ensure that wildlife is not forgotten in agriculture.

Hywel Roberts said many farmers had wildflower meadows that the trust helped to ensure could thrive.

“We hold workshops for farmers and are always keep to get involved in promoting wildife in agriculture,” he said.

The trust is currently campaigning to see habitat improved for curlews, who had had a 46 per cent drop in numbers in Shropshire over the past 25 years.