The Norfolk Showground has today been ringing with the sound of happy childrens voices. Most of the adults with them seemed pretty satisfied as well. It was the annual Spring Fling, arranged by the Show specifically to provide rural activity opportunities for children between 4 and 14 during the Easter Hoilidays. This year almost 4,500 attended - which is almost certainly a record.
I won't try to tell of all the things the children could do - there were so many. But the theme, as usual, was interactivity allowing the young people to do things on every stall. The John Innes Institute, for instance, invited visitors to identify different trees by sniffing the fruits they bear. The Young Farmers did a taste test of flavoured baked crisps made from potatoes and lentils and asked the tasters to vote for which they preferred.
A local cheese maker showed how cheese was made and offered pieces to taste. A dairy farmer - part of an East Anglian group of producers whose milk is labelled as such - had brought Friesian, Jersey and Ayrshire cows and were giving away cartons to drink. Pig producers were cooking sausages for visitors; bee keepers showed how bee's made honey and so on.
There were sheepdog and gundog demonstrations, information on bird identification by the RSPB, some children made collages using different coloured grains, there were animals to touch, wool to weave, thatching reeds to sort, cider to press, ferrets to watch, quizzes to complete, tractors and trailers to ride. You name and it the kids could do it on the showground today.
It cost visitors £4.50 to get in whatever their age and for that they qualified for a hog roast lunch. I watched as parents and grandparents followed their little ones from stand to stand. The children loved it and were asking most of the questions. But the parents were listening to the answers.
As previously the event made a significant contribution to better understanding between farmers and their customers. Or as Sir Don Curry would say - to the reconnection of the two.
I am pleased to say Norfolk's example has been copied by several other organisation around the country. Indeed there was a welcome "spy" from The Three Counties Show there today.
As I left a lady who I imagine came from the nearby City of Norwich asked me if I was one of the organisers. I admitted I might have had a little to do with previous Spring Flings. "Well, she said, I just wanted to say what an excellent event this has been for children and adults and such good value. Would you please pass on my comments to those responsible." I promised that I would.