Weekend of fun for all as Spring Live! makes return
The sun shone as thousands of people flocked to the South of England Showground at the weekend for the first of the venue’s four major events of the year.
From archery to axe throwing to dog shows and circus skills workshops, there was a range of activities on hand for the whole family at Spring Live! in Ardingly on Saturday and Sunday.
Thanks to the easing of Covid restrictions, organisers were able to reintroduce the annual show’s popular ‘have a go’ activities, which enabled visitors to get more hands-on as they had been able to prepandemic.
Show director Corrie Ince said: “We truly celebrated the arrival of spring this weekend at the showground with thousands of people joining us to embrace one of the largest countryside shows of the season in our region.
“Being able to offer a great day out for all the family and their four-legged friends is always our aim and we hope our visitors enjoyed their visit.
“Our shows are also about education, and they expose the public to a countryside way of life.
There was a wide range of activities and attractions to entertain visitors.
Younger guests had the chance to learn about a range of animals, from farmyard favourites to reptiles and amphibians, as well as take part in chocolate and wand-making workshops and visit the on-site funfair.
Morris dancing, a sheep show, clog dancing and circus skills workshops also provided fun for the whole family.
For the green-fingered visitors, there were garden equipment stands and a newformat Gardener’s Q&A session where people could get top tips from experts.
Breeders from across the country also showcased their Huacaya and Suri alpacas, while the Countryside Hub provided information on the Countryside Code – a particularly important document to be aware of when exploring rural West Sussex – see page 5 for more details.
As the event drew to a close on Sunday, the South of England Agricultural Society, which organised the show, said on Facebook: “The gates for Spring Live! 2022 have now closed.
“We would like to say a huge thank you to these guys who have engineered this weekend of fun – chief steward Graham and trustee/chair of the Spring Live! committee James, both volunteers.
“And to all the volunteers who made the show happen. And to our visitors for coming – we hope you had a good time.”
The South of England Society will now turn its attention to the next major event in its annual programme – the South of England Show – from June 10-12.
A spokesman said: “Offering all ages, the chance to connect with the countryside and have a great day out, the South of England Show features a non-stop programme of agricultural and equestrian displays, country pursuits, live entertainment, rural crafts, and an abundance of food, drink and shopping opportunities.
“The 2022 show will return to full force with international showjumping, heavy horse displays, scurry racing, equine and livestock judging and the ever-popular cattle parades and lots more.
“Plus, there will be forestry, falconry, fly casting, and many more rural industries and crafts for visitors to experience and enjoy – a show set to wow visitors of all ages.”