24/10/07
With only days to go until the gates open on this year's Countryside
Live, the exciting two-day event offers fantastic food, funky fashions,
friendly animals and fabulous shopping - great for all the family.
Karen Cowling and her collie, Sam get
ready for the dog agility demonstrations at this weekend's Countryside
Live
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With the perfect mix of the best of rural life and fun activities,
Countryside Live takes place on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 October
in the Yorkshire Event Centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground,
Harrogate. Some 90% of activities are held inside the purpose-built
exhibition halls, so everyone can enjoy the weekend no matter what
the weather. Countryside Live is organised by the Yorkshire Agricultural
Society, best known as the organiser of the Great Yorkshire Show.
Show Director Bill Cowling said: "This is the fifth Countryside
Live and we're confident our visitors will have a wonderful time.
Having to cancel the livestock classes was disappointing, but we
have added a whole range of extra attractions and as ever, we have
lots of stands with opportunities to get a head start on the Christmas
shopping!
He added: "Around the show we've got dog agility demonstrations
for the first time, plenty of small animals in the extended Family
Pet Area, cookery demonstrations, fashion shows, and rural crafts
- it's the perfect end to half-term for children, and the rest
of the family will have a great day out too."
Taking centre stage each day will be the members - canine and human
- of the Harrogate Agility Training Society (HATS), with dogs of
all shapes and sizes being put through their paces over a specially-designed
obstacle course.
In the extended Family Pet Area there is plenty to see, whether
your interest is in spiders and snakes or rabbits and guinea pigs,
and you'll be able to pick up useful tips on caring for different
species.
More than 100 brownies are expected at the event and a new feature
this year is the special Countryside Live Brownie badge, which
members of local packs can obtain by completing a series of show-related
tasks. In the Education Area there are plenty of hands-on activities,
from bread and sausage-making to a colouring competition or there's
the opportunity to get "hands on" at the potter's wheel.
A special feature is the Halloween Fancy Dress competition, when
under-12s are invited to arrive in the spookiest costume they can
make from recycled materials.
If you prefer the glitz and glamour of the catwalk, then take in
the fashion shows under the heading of "Country Cool".
Co-ordinated by Bernadette Gledhill of the Louise Morton Model
Agency of Huddersfield, these will feature clothes designed by
Yorkshire entrepreneurs including deerskin clothing from Holme
Farmed Venison of Sherburn-in-Elmet and luxurious lingerie from
Bella di Notte of Helmsley.
The event also provides the opportunity to chat to producers of
some of the region's finest food and drink and indulge in the many
sampling opportunities? The cookery theatre is another major attraction
with award-winning chefs giving regular demonstrations, as well
as the three category winners of the Great Yorkshire Cookery Competition
preparing their prize-winning dishes live on stage.
The climbing wall offers the chance to take a fresh view of Countryside
Live, while the Village Green area will feature a thatching display
by Leo Wood of Northampton, with a working exhibition for children
- and parents - to try out their own skills. There is also a pottery
demonstration by Ingleton Pottery of Gargrave, near Skipton, and
the fascinating art of harness-making is explained by Arthur Hunter
of Seaham, Co Durham. Musical accompaniment is provided by the
Yorkshire Post Jazz Band, setting the seal on this vibrant, buzzing
area.
Elsewhere, the Woodfair features a chainsaw sculptor, tree identity
quiz, wood-turners and a range of exhibitors displaying forestry
machinery, equipment and accessories. There will also be demonstrations
of a mobile sawmill and a pole turner.
Gardeners will want to head for the Knaresborough Horticultural
Society's Late Flower Show, being held at Countryside Live for
the second successive year. As well as children's classes and those
for flower arranging, there are categories for novelty vegetables
and the Championship Class Special Prize for the best five vases
of three chrysanthemum blooms.
Knaresborough Horticultural Society chairman, Mike Prest, said: "It's
been a difficult year for gardeners but we're still looking forward
to a good number of entries as we have quite a variety of classes.
For the first time this year we also have the local schools' competition,
where children get the chance to show how their school promotes
gardening. This is something we hope to expand in future shows
as so many schools are now starting allotment or gardening clubs."
Tickets are available on the gate, priced £8 for Adults and £7
concessions. Children and Yorkshire Agricultural Society members
are admitted free of charge. On-site parking is also free and extensive.
The Great Yorkshire Showground is situated on the south side of
Harrogate, with access off the A661.
See www.countrysidelive.co.uk for more details.
The dog agility demonstrations are sponsored by North Yorkshire-based
pet food producer Burgess, who will be handing out samples of its
premium dried dog food which is completely hypo-allergenic, Supadog
Wellbeing.
 Fun For All the Family at Countryside Live 2007
Royal Smithfield Christmas Fair Cancelled for 2007
A Fashion First For Countryside Live
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