Outdoor events

Melplash Show

"It never rains on Melplash Show Day", insisted an early visitor to this year's Melplash Show - and he was almost right.

Animal orcestra conducted by farmers!

In the morning sunshine and afternoon showers, thousands of visitors poured into the showground near Bridport. The Melplash Agricultural Society has aimed to keep the show as close as possible to the principles of supporting local farming which have kept the show going for more than 100 years ago, with a reputation as ''The Friendly Show". 

Visitors wandered through the pens of sheep, cattle, rabbits, donkeys and even guinea-pigs adorned with rosettes. A jammed Food Hall was packed with every kind of local produce from duck burgers to apple cakes.

This year the Main Ring hosted Sheep Dog Displays by Gus Dermody and the Gamegoer Gundog & Falconry Display throughout the day – the finale being The Grand Parade of all the winning livestock.

Gillingham and Shaftesbury Agricultural Show

North Dorset's annual celebration of all things rural took place on the 17th August with the 75th Gillingham and Shaftesbury Agricultural Show at the Turnpike Showground, Motcombe.

The Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show

Glorious sunshine brought visitors and farmers out in their thousands to see the best local livestock, watch the showjumping action and heavy horse displays, sample the best Dorset food and drink and peruse the farming trade stands.

This year's highlights included the Royal Artillery Motorcycle Display Team, Heavy Horse Musical Drive and a Tiger Moth fly-past. The competitive classes featured many classes for younger exhibitors.

Organiser Sam Braddick puts the show's longevity down to it's close links to the community:"We've tried to keep our agricultural nature - its almost a social event, everyone comes out to meet their friends. People actually book their holidays to co-incide with the show!"

The Great Dorset Steam Fair

There is a real flavour of farming in days gone by at the Great Dorset Steam Fair at Tarrant Hinton. Hundreds of vintage steam threshers, tractors and other agricultural machinery is on show over the weekend of the 3rd - 4th September.