As the South of England Show returns for its 58th year, a new Living Land Theatre will put some of the biggest issues facing farming and land-based industries firmly at the heart of this year’s event.
Taking place as part of the show in Ardingly, West Sussex, the Living Land Theatre will run on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th June under the theme “Growing a thriving future.” The new programme will bring together farmers, advisors, educators and rural professionals to share real-world experience, practical knowledge and bold ideas for the future of the sector.
Sponsored by Virgin Money and Plumpton College, the Living Land Theatre will give visitors the opportunity to hear from and network with land-based professionals, speak directly to educators, and take part in discussions and workshops addressing some of the current challenges facing agriculture, including the Sustainable Farming Incentive, succession, skills for the next generation, promoting careers in farming, diversification, and building water resilience.
Speakers include Robyn Munt, Vice President of the National Farmers Union; Brian Richardson, UK Head of Agriculture at Virgin Money; Martin Lines, CEO of Nature Friendly Farming Network; Mims Davies, MP for East Grinstead and Uckfield; and Jeremy Kerswell, Principal of Plumpton College.
The Living Land Theatre will also feature the South of England Agricultural Society Technical Forum, ‘Smarter Decisions, Stronger Margins’, on Saturday, 6th June, sponsored by Savills. Also streamed online, the forum will examine what it takes to run a high-performing farm business and will be hosted by Mark Campbell of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. Speakers will include farmer, entrepreneur and influencer Olly ‘Blogs’ Harrison, Natalie Gaibani, Head of Farming at Strutt & Parker and Charles Burgoyne, dairy farmer and 2026 President and former Chair of the South of England Agricultural Society.
Brian Richardson, Head of UK Agriculture at Virgin Money, commented:
“Never has it been more important for the industry to come together and have open debate around the challenges and opportunities facing UK farming. Farmers are dealing with increasing pressure from every angle, but this remains an industry with a positive future built on adaptability, innovation and sustainability.
“Virgin Money is proud to support the Living Land Theatre and the South of England Show, because events like this play a vital role in connecting farming with the wider public, while also creating space for important conversations about the future of food production and the countryside.”
Visitors from land-based industries can also visit the popular ringside Farmers’ Marquee and CLA Marquee, which will offer additional networking opportunities throughout the show.
Jeremy Kerswell, Chief Executive and Principal of Plumpton College, added:
“Plumpton College celebrates its centenary in 2026, marking 100 years of specialist land and environmental education. Throughout that time, we have trained and prepared thousands of people to go on to be successful in their future careers and are delighted to have the opportunity to showcase our incredible heritage and that journey at the show this year.
“While we are attracting more students than ever to study these vital subjects, we recognise now is as important a time as ever in our history. We are therefore hugely committed to ensuring we are meeting the skills needs of the farming, horticulture, environmental and wider sectors that we support. We are delighted to be a sponsor of the Living Land Theatre and at the heart of the future of these industries.”
Justin Ellis, Trustee and Treasurer for the South of England Agricultural Society and organiser of the Living Land Theatre, concluded:
“For nearly six decades, the South of England Show has celebrated agriculture, rural life and the countryside, but it also has an important role to play in looking ahead.
“Farming is at a critical point. The decisions being made now around land use, food production, skills, water, environmental responsibility and business resilience will shape the future of the countryside for generations.
“The new Living Land Theatre gives those conversations a proper platform within the show. It is not about talking around the issues; it is about bringing the right people together to have practical, honest discussions about what farming needs next and how the wider industry can respond.
“As a Society, our role is not only to celebrate agriculture, but to support its future. That means helping farmers, educators, policymakers, businesses and the public better understand the realities facing the sector and the opportunities ahead.”
Other sponsors of the event include CLM, Thomson Snell & Passmore, Longbridge, AHDB, Kreston Reeves and Innovation for Agriculture.
To view the full Living Land Theatre programme at the South of England Show, visit:
https://www.seas.org.uk/south-of-england-show/farming-land-based-industries/
This year’s South of England Show will once again celebrate agriculture, equestrian sport, rural life and countryside entertainment, with livestock competitions, top-level showjumping, rural crafts, falconry, gundog displays, fishing demonstrations, vintage agricultural machinery and a packed programme of displays, demonstrations and hands-on activities.
For more information or to book tickets, visit www.seas.org.uk.