Tick of approval for Royal Welsh Festival
The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s Smallholder and Garden Festival has won enthusiastic public approval according to the results of an on-line survey. The two-day annual event first staged by the society 10 years ago attracted 22,258 people in 2009 and over 99 per cent of those who responded to the survey said they would recommend it to others.
Similar surveys have been conducted by the RWAS for its two other major events on the showground at Llanelwedd, Builth Wells – the four day summer show in July and the Winter Fair which runs for two days in the period leading up to Christmas. The results are analysed to assess visitor reaction and the society hopes to encourage more people to participate in future surveys via its website (www.rwas.co.uk).
“The surveys are very useful because they enable us to obtain a clearer profile of our visitors and a more accurate assessment of public reaction to the types of programmes and entertainment we are providing,” said Royal Welsh Chief Executive, David Walters.
“We are constantly working to improve all three of our events and by responding to these surveys visitors are helping us to make the right decisions when reviewing progress and planning future strategy. I would therefore encourage as many of our visitors as possible to respond.”
The Smallholder and Garden Festival has become increasingly popular as a spring attraction in Wales and the survey found that many people made repeat visits. Smallholders (15.9%) and those interested in gardens and horticulture (16.8%) attend in almost equal numbers but livestock at the Festival, mainly sheep, pigs and goats of various breeds, including rare breeds, command most interest (17.3%). The Food Hall (14%) and trade stands (12.9%) are also popular with visitors.
Most of the many attractions featured at the Festival are rated ‘good’ in the survey as are the facilities on the showground. Nearly 60 per cent of the replies indicated they were ‘very satisfied’ by their overall experience of the event and 72% said they would be returning to the Festival this year.
The Smallholder and Garden Festival takes place on the weekend of May 15 and 16.
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