While someone might need to tell the weather sometimes, there’s certainly a noticeable change in the weather now.
Our weekly countdown to the return of the Newport Show on July 8 is about to move into single figures – and the activity to make sure this year’s show is better than ever is certainly ramping up!
As a key community event, each Newport Show draws on the skills and knowledge of our team of volunteers to help the day run smoothly – and we’re once again asking for your help.
The show’s volunteers were recognised in June 2020 with a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – a lifelong award recognising the work of volunteer teams which is the highest possible award they can receive.
As our mind turns towards the King’s coronation in May, why not join or team of volunteers? You’ll not only be doing something good for your local community – you’ll have a lot of fun, too!
Among the many people who worked with us as volunteers, and who are now at the heart of the work we do with the show, is Diane MacLeod.
You may have seen recent press coverage announcing Diane, who has been exhibiting with us since moving to the area seven years ago, as the new Horticulture and
Handicraft Secretary – and she’s also writing us regular pieces which you can find on the Newport Show website.
In her latest piece, Diane talks about the plants growing in her garden with the return of spring – and the various crops which she is preparing for her garden.
While she admits she often takes advantage of the wide variety available from our commercial growers, Diane is preparing a crop of potatoes – and, thanks to our education outreach work in the local community, her efforts are being matched by schoolchildren across the region in our annual potato growing competition.
In this competition – a fixture of each show – we provide school pupils with potatoes and a growbag and challenge them to grow the heaviest crop of spuds they can – with the winning entry announced on Show day.
I know the growbags and the seed potatoes are out there, so best of luck to all our growers – I will also be taking part, as will our Vice-Chairman Duncan Gunn-Russell, so there’s likely to be a lot of friendly rivalry!
Finally, a word of thanks to Karsten Prepared – one of our key local employers – for their support of the show and particularly the Fruit Shy competition.
On the day at Newport Show local school children from across the communities we serve take part in our Fruit Shy competition – a novel take on the traditional coconut shy (though sometimes using pineapples instead!)
The winning school with the most tokens wins the prize, snack pots for every child at the school!
In the end last year, the first prize went to Tibberton School, who were rewarded with Karsten Prepared Snack Pots – well done to all the pupils, and thank you once more to Karsten Prepared – one of the many local businesses who help make us Shropshire’s best one day show for all the family!
As ever, for all the latest on the Newport Show as we prepare for our return on July 8, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NewportShowShropshire - or click on our website, www.newportshow.co.uk – where you can get your hands on Early Bird tickets right now!
Caroline Belcher, Newport Show President
