Scottish Game Fair returns to Scone Palace

Preparations are well under way for the 29th GWCT Scottish Game Fair, which takes place next weekend.

Returning to its home in the grounds of the historic and scenic Scone Palace for another year, the fair is lauded as Scotland’s most popular outdoor event.

The event is an annual gathering for country sports enthusiasts and is a great family day out for anyone with an interest in the countryside. The threeday event offers a packed programme in the Main Ring including terrier racing, the Fred Taylor Memorial Working Pony Competition, the Tug o’ War and the Dog ’n’ Dog Show.

This year, for the first time, the Scottish Game Fair will play host to the inaugural Four Nations International Gundog competition on July 1. This event will involve teams from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales competing on the islands of the River Tay.

For those who like to get involved when they come along to an event, there are plenty of opportunities to get hands on with activities including fishing, scurry, clays and much more. Foodies will relish the opportunity to pick up some culinary tips during the demonstrations in the Cookery Theatre.

There will also be more than 450 traders, giving plenty of opportunities to shop for items including the finest outdoor equipment, sporting goods, food, drink, clothing and crafts, which will all be on sale at great prices.

Part of the remit of the Scottish Game Fair is to be a true celebration of rural Scotland and to help educate on countryside issues. The GWCT Game Fair showcases game, wildlife and countryside management, offering an insight to everyone who comes along to the fair.

There is set to be a hive of activity in the GWCT’s Wee Beasties Marquee during the fair. Visitors will learn all there is to know about honeybees and pollination. There will be experienced beekeepers on hand to answer questions and there will be a live observation hive and a badge for everyone who can spot the queen bee.

Wildlife sculptor Julian Jardine and Royal Highland Education Trust will also be running a variety of free workshops and offering children the opportunity to get involved in hands-on activities such as clay model making and having a go at pressing their own oil from the oilseed rape press. GWCT’s professional advisors will be close at hand to inform on how in-field conservation margins can be established to benefit farmland songbirds, grey partridges and all bees.

To buy tickets and for more details visit www.scottishfair.com.

Pictures: Kris Miller/Kim Cessford. Crowds in the palace grounds at last year’s event.