COME WHAT MAY THE SPRING SHOW IS THE PLACE TO BE - 03/05/2010

Preparations for The South of England Agricultural Society’s first show of the year are gathering pace. The Spring Garden & Leisure Show unleashes its programme on Sunday 2 and Monday 3 May. It promises to jump start the season with a potent mix of enduring favourites and new additions.

This popular event provides a flourish of family entertainment with a focus on the green fingered. It is the perfect opportunity to indulge a budding interest or expand a blooming passion in gardens, great and small. Visitors can shake off their winter blues and stock up on gorgeous spring bedding plants and long-lasting shrubs. While an abundance of trade stands offers everything needed to turn garden chores into a pleasure.

For anyone who has ever asked ‘How does your garden grow?’ the expert panel of the Garden Roadshow will be back by popular demand. Bugged by bugs or thwarted by thorns? The team will be able to resolve those unanswered questions and share their take on inspirational gardening and tales of success.

One of the most popular attractions in recent years has been the Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance. The service provides an emergency medical helicopter that responds to serious trauma. With a specialists team on board it saves vital minutes and lives. It will be operational from the Show again this year, while raising awareness of the service and providing a fascinating insight into its operations at the same time.

The success of last year’s Farmers’ Market has guaranteed its place for 2010. Visitors really enjoy the process of shopping and interacting with individual retailers and love the fact that food is seasonal as well as home-grown, locally-reared, produced, caught, pickled, baked and brewed. They also value the notion that produce is sold direct from farmers, growers and producers.

As always the Food Hall will be flooded with delicious aromas and tempting tasters where the public get a rare chance to meet the producers that grow and make our wonderful selection of British food. This connection with what we eat and drink promotes a real sense of ownership in our local food supply and inspires us all to have a go with the vegetable patch!

If that wasn’t enough the show offers a medley of musical entertainment over the two days. The Kausary Peruvian band with the pulsating sights and sounds of South America and The Youth Steel Band will lend a sunny flavour to the proceedings over both days, while The Petworth Town Band will debut at the Show on Sunday. This fifty strong band has its roots in the 19th century and comprises an unusual combination of brass and woodwind instruments. These days, following several reincarnations, it is everything a friendly, enthusiastic and entertaining town band ought to be.

And last, but certainly not least, there’s the ever-popular and hugely entertaining Open Dog Show and the captivating llamas and alpacas – both guaranteed to surprise and delight the crowd!

The Spring Garden & Leisure Show offers the best of Sussex.

Sunday 2 & Monday 3 May
Gates open from 9am to 5pm
Admission prices: adult £7: child £3: senior citizens/students £5: family ticket £17:
Reduced price advanced tickets available on the website – for details: www.springgardenshow.co.uk