Showing the way

Newark may have been dropped from its title, but there’s no doubt the Nottinghamshire County Show is among the main events on the calendar for the town and surrounding area.

Newark Showground hosts the country’s first big agricultural show of the season on Saturday and Sunday, and this year it will offer something for everyone.

The show’s roots are firmly in farming — historically, it provided an opportunity for farmers to showcase their livestock and catch up on what was new in the agricultural industry.

For exhibitors and competitors it’s still a serious business to which many hours of preparation are dedicated in order to impress the judges.

And for the thousands of visitors the show offers an insight into the huge role agriculture plays in the local and national economy.

Of course, there is also much more to see and do, from spectacular main ring attractions to more than 500-plus trade stands.

Displays and demonstrations in the hugely popular Food Experience marquee will whet the appetite of anyone who drops in.

There will be flypasts by a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster bomber, and a special display to mark the 70th anniversary of the daring Dambusters raid on the Ruhr Valley dams in May 1943, complete with a mock-up of the famous bouncing bomb that was used.

Meanwhile, getting to and from the showground couldn’t be easier thanks to a free hourly bus service, sponsored by the Advertiser and Newark Town Council. The first service of each show day leaves the Tawny Owl, Fernwood, at 8.35am.

It’s too good to miss — visit this year’s county show.