AN EVENT highlighting everything which is great and good about the South Downs will return to a beauty spot between Petersfield and Clanfield this weekend.
Ferret racing, scrumptious food and much more inbetween will be showcased to visitors at the South Downs Show.
The event – billed as a show for all the family, including those with paws – at Queen Elizabeth Country Park will be open to the public between 10am and 5pm this Saturday and Sunday.
Organisers are confident that this year’s show will be the biggest and best yet due to its massive array of stalls, activities and displays.
“At the end of last year’s show we did an exit survey and got everyone’s opinions,” said Terena Plowright, chief co-ordinator of the annual event.
“We really listened to what local people wanted and I think we’re giving them what they want.
“One of the things they really wanted was more animals so we’ve got pigs, rabbits and pretty much every animal you can think of.
“The great thing about our show is that you can get in the pen with a lot of these animals and pet them, which is great for the kids.
“We’ve got a load of fantastic arena events like the Dog and Duck Show and the Stallions of Substance.”
This year’s show will be the fourth while previous events have attracted visitors from as far away as Dorset, Surrey and East Sussex. One new activity bound to attract some interest is clayzer, where clay pigeons are shot with a laser instead of a gun.
Dogs will play a major part in the programme as organisers have added a dog area to the arena, while owners will also find an agility section, several stands and plenty of experts.
“We’ve also got lots of woodcraft and woodwork exhibitions and just to top it all off we’ve got an amazing shopping experience,” added Terena, who wanted to thank main sponsors Beaver Tool Hire and the show’s many volunteers for their support.
Tickets are priced £7.50 for adults, £3.50 for children under-16, £6 for OAPs and £20 for families. Plenty of parking will be available. For more details, visit www.southdownssouth.co.uk