Mae’r Ŵyl Tyddyn a Gardd yn ddigwyddiad sy’n rhoi gwerth am arian
Meirion Owen and his Quack Pack will entertain visitors at the Festival.
Around 25,000 people seeking a value-for-money weekend of entertainment are expected to visit the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s annual Smallholder and Garden festival on May 15 and 16.
According to the results of a survey following last year’s Festival on the showground at Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, 99 per cent of those who responded said they would recommend it to other people as an event to visit and nearly three-quarters said they would be returning to the Festival in 2010, so big crowds are anticipated.
One of the three major events organised by the RWAS alongside the summer show and the Winter Fair, the Festival has become a key fixture for smallholders and gardeners and a popular attraction for people from town and country who want a weekend of family entertainment, which can also be an educational experience, at minimum cost.
This will be the 10th Festival to be staged by the Royal Welsh and the programme will be larger and more varied than ever. The entries of rare and traditional breeds of livestock include record entries of 547 sheep, 199 pigs and 369 goats. A premier open dog show has attracted over 1340 entries from across the UK and there will be a poultry show with over 300 classes and special awards.
More than 200 trade stands on the showground will include those selling craft items, clothing, flowers, shrubs and vegetables as well as equipment for smallholders and gardeners and the Farmers Markets of Wales will be represented by some 70 small
scale artisan producers selling a range of locally-produced food and drink in the showground’s Food Hall.
With a variety of displays, demonstrations, auctions and lectures, together with main ring attractions and evening entertainment, the Festival caters for people of all ages and will run from early Saturday morning until late afternoon on Sunday.
“It would be difficult to find a more comprehensive and interesting event anywhere in the country held in beautiful surroundings and with such excellent facilities for visitors and I urge people to come,” said the Festival Director, Dr Fred Slater. “I can promise everyone they will have a wonderful time at an affordable cost.”
Among the popular attractions will be a Green Horizons (Eco) exhibition, floral and horticultural displays, a ‘Gardening Question Time’ featuring radio and TV presenters, and a variety of talks and workshops on smallholding, environmental and countryside issues.
New at the Festival this year will be an exciting scurry driving competition in which ponies in double harness negotiate an obstacle course against the clock. Nineteen pairs have entered for the competition. Another new event will be a farriery competition with 40 entries run by the Welsh Blacksmithing and Farriery Association in the showground’s Farriery Pavilion which will be utilised for the first time.
The programme, with special attractions for children, will include Meirion Owen and his Quack Pack, the Rockwood Dog Display team, Titan the Robot, Black Mountain Falconry, two circuses, ferret racing and a Victorian Fair.
A vintage machinery display and parade has attracted 181 entries and potential smallholders seeking a suitable property may find exactly what they are looking for at the Festival’s property road show.
Admission to the Festival costs £10 for adults and £5 for children aged 5-16 years. Children under 5 years are admitted free. A family one-day ticket costs £25 and
weekend caravanning and camping from 12 noon on May 14 to 12 noon on May 17 costs £35 per pitch. Prices include VAT and car parking is free. A mini bus service will operate between Builth Road Station and the showground for those travelling to the Festival by train and a wheelchair hire service will also be available at Llanelwedd.
For young parents a special family centre for mothers and babies will be located in the British Charolais Society Pavilion.
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