Countryside Live - Media Centre

 
 

Background Information

Countryside Live Facts

  • 2011 will be the ninth Countryside Live.
  • Organised by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and takes place at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, HG2 8NZ.
  • Web site address is www.countrysidelive.co.uk
  • Ticket line number 01423 541222.  General: 01423 541000
  • Last year’s Countryside Live 2010 attracted a record attendance figure of 10,221. The previous record was 10,127 established in 2008.
  • There are competitive classes for:  cattle and sheep, equine, pigeons and poultry, hives and honey and farriery. There is also a tug of war competition organised by the local Young Farmers Clubs.
  • New for 2011 – Olympia qualifiers for Ridden Mountain & Moorland Classes, Sheep Show, as featured on BBC Radio 2 Chris Evans Breakfast Show, Sheep Dog demonstrations from Carol & Philip Mellin, stars of the TV show "The Dales" and will be hosting the National Apple Show. 
  • Other attractions include:  Return of the Top Show Jumping Talent competition, plenty of shopping opportunities, dog agility demonstrations, the Cookery Theatre, falconry displays, The Country Crafts Experience for children, young farmers competitions, and a flowers, fruit, and vegetable show courtesy of Knaresborough Horticultural Society.
  • Ticket prices are:

Advance (before 15 October 2010) 

On the Gate 

Adults 

£7.00 

£10.00 

Children 

£3.00 

£5.00 

Family 

£18.00 

£28.00 

  • Opening Times: Saturday: 9am – 5pm. Sunday: 9am – 4.30pm.
  • Car parking is free and extensive
  • A free shuttle bus is offered from Railway Road, next to Sainsburys to the show’s Blue Entrance

History of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society

The Yorkshire Agricultural Society was formed in 1837 and is a charity dedicated to supporting the farming industry and rural life. The value of the support it provides to regional farming and countryside initiatives has risen year on year to nearly £1m.

Based at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, the Society is the organiser of the annual farming and country show case, the Great Yorkshire Show and its sister event, Countryside Live. The 2012 Great Yorkshire Show runs from Tuesday 10 – Thursday 12 July and Countryside Live is on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October 2011.   Both take place at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire and are flagship events for agriculture and rural life.

The Society plays a key role in supporting rural life, through grants, sponsorships and has a very active education department which runs a wide range of activities aimed at increasing the knowledge of young people and their teachers about the important role farmers play in producing our food and caring for the landscape. An important date on the annual calendar is the annual Countryside Days event when thousands of primary school children use the showground as a resource for learning.

In June 2009, the Society opened its Regional Agricultural Centre at the showground which is a focus for excellence for the industry, as well as the new home of the Society. 

Yorkshire Event Centre Limited (YEC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Society and all YEC’s profits go to fund its charitable work.

Who's Who in the Yorkshire Agricultural Society

Chairman: Simon Theakston

Vice Chairman (and former Chairman): John Stoddart-Scott

President: Raymond Twiddle OBE

President Elect: Susan Cunliff-Lister

Chief Executive: Nigel Pulling