Sparsholt College are set to open their big barn doors for the showcase event in the College’s calendar, Countryside Day 2017, on Saturday 13 May, 9.30am to 4.30pm. Students are prepped and ready to take centre stage leading many of the demonstrations and have-a-go activities which have become the hallmark of the day, where visitors experience the varied skills of countryside careers, living and leisure.
Guided by Sparsholt’s students and expert lecturers, visitors can experience any number of activities from clay pigeon shooting, coppicing, tree climbing and fly fishing. For those who prefer to sit back and watch, there will be Hampshire Fire and Rescue demonstrations, Runner Ducks, Sheep Shearing, Sheep and Gun dog displays, Horse-logging and show jumping. And for those who like to sit back and sit on there will also be pony rides, tractor-trailer rides, zorbs, wheelchair basketball and junior pedal tractor Grand Prix.
All these activities will make for hungry, thirsty work and once again Taste of Hampshire, in conjunction with Hampshire Fare, will get taste buds buzzing, celebrating the region’s finest food and drink. Many of Hampshire’s leading chefs are ready to don their chef’s whites and demonstrate tasty treats from local producers across the county.
Commenting on the ideal family day out day Sparsholt College Principal Tim Jackson said: “We are very proud of our beautiful campus and our first class facilities and it is a genuine pleasure to see these being enjoyed by the thousands of visitors who come to Countryside Day. However, it is our students who make this event so special and it is a pleasure to see them demonstrating and sharing the skills they have learned whether that’s our Arboriculture students racing to the top of a 45 foot pole or fishery students teaching the art of casting. We have a number of new activities for this year including a cattle show where Agriculture students will parade the College’s prize herd, all hoping to impress the judges and win rosettes and best in show. We will also be unveiling our 2017 RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden before heading off to compete in the UK’s most famous and popular flower show. We hope all our visitors will see and experience the huge number of career and leisure opportunities the countryside has to offer”.
The horticulture department will have a ‘plant crèche’ to keep plant purchases safe until visitors go home – so there’s no need to worry about missing out!
There really will be something for everybody from little toddlers through to grandparents. Early bird tickets are available until 29 April at the following prices: Adults £7 (£10 after 29 April), Children (4-16): £5 (£7 after 29 April), Family ticket (two adults + two children): £19 (£25 after 29 April), Seniors (60+): £6 (£8 after 29 April) and Under 4s: Free
Sorry, no dogs with the exception of recognised assistance dogs.