It’s show time as plans for top event go ahead
Organisers of one of the UK’s largest one-day agricultural shows, which is held in Shropshire, are cautiously proceeding with their plans to go ahead with this year’s event.
The Burwarton Show is set to make its return on August 5, with the last event being held in 2019.
It was due to take place on August 6 in 2020, but joined the list of events forced to cancel due to the Covid pandemic.
Organisers from the Burwarton & District Agricultural Society said they were “pleasantly surprised” at the Prime Minister’s announcement on easing lockdown restrictions, meaning all legal limits relating to the coronavirus could be lifted by June 21.
The event, which takes place each year at a site between Bridgnorth and Ludlow, attracts tens of thousands of people from across the UK to witness some of the finest in agriculture the country has to offer.
Alan Watkins, chairman of the Burwarton & District Agricultural Society, said: “We are optimistic that we’ll be able to put on a show this year – more optimistic than ever before after Boris’s announcement.
“We’ll be guided by government restrictions but looking at what has been announced, if everything goes according to plan we would be able to put on a full show with no restrictions.”
He added: “Everyone wants to have the event this year after it was cancelled last year and we’re receiving show stand inquiries.”
Mr Watkins said before the rollout of the UK’s vaccination programme, the society was doubtful the show would go ahead, with 2022 the more probable date for a return.
He said: “We were a bit afraid in the winter that people wouldn’t want to go to the show even if we were to put one on.
“Some people may have thought there was still a risk to attending large events.
“But in the light of the vaccination programme being successful, according to the government, that sounds to be a lot less likely now, especially if the cases continue to drop.”
Mr Watkins said the show’s organising committee, which usually donates thousands to charity each year, would have been able to financially withstand one more year’s absence.
“The show, due to our forebears, can stand not taking place for another year,” he said. “It’s a balancing act as the safest thing for us to do would be to call it off.
“But that’s not something we want to do. We were very much pleasantly surprised by the announcement and now we can continue to plan a successful event in August.”
The event dates back to 1891 when the Burwarton & District Farmers’ Club held the first show in a field north of the village.
For more information visit burwartonshow.co.uk
