Crowds descend on Great British Farm Fest

Roughly 50,000 visitors are expected to attend the inaugural Great British Farm Fest at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire over the May bank holiday weekend.

The event is being headlined by the Clarkson’s Farm team and includes a range of livestock, farming demonstrations, trade stands, bars, and a music arena.

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Show director Chris Hughes, said: “What you’re seeing today is probably the largest new festival in Britain this year, and it will have about 50,000 people at it over the next three days.

“It’s got lots of music bands, lots of country stores, and loads of animals coming from farmyard attractions around the country, and it’s all been put together really in seven or eight months.”

He added: “Lots of intelligent, talented folk within the farming community have seen a fresh opportunity and said that sounds like good fun.”

According to Clarkson’s Farm star and consultant Charlie Ireland, engagement with the public has never been so important for farming.

“It’s a good start to being able to explain to people what goes on [in farming], and that it’s fun, and something you can have a career in.”

The event is being powered by Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) courtesy of sponsor Certas Energy.

Merseyside arable farmer and social media influencer Olly Harrison, who is also running the “Tractorama” displays at the show, said: “It’s fantastic that such a significant event is being powered by HVO, marking a great opportunity for farmers like me to understand the difference that transitioning from diesel to HVO can make.” 

Unsung farming heroes

The event has also partnered with farming charity the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution to celebrate real farming heroes.

Chris said: “Fifty unsung heroes in farming have been invited here for the weekend with their families, and they’ll be popping up wherever possible in the show, so we can tell their stories.”

Cotswold farmer and presenter Adam Henson told Farmers Weekly some of his own farming heroes were agricultural professional Jane Craigie, and Devon-based dairy farmers Peter and Di Wastenage.

Future plans

The organisers hope the event will continue to grow in the coming years and become part of the farming calendar.

Chris said: “I think our sort of mission for it is that it should be significant.

“I think what’s important for us is that we do something new for the community, and we don’t just do another country fair, because to be fair, lots of good people already do those.

“We’re trying to be a ‘beginner’s guide to farming’, but also to bring something new to the calendar – it’s a slightly more modern take on a festival.”

Charlie added that the event has got to complement other rural shows rather than replace them.