Nottinghamshire County Show set to stay as a one-day event after bumper crowd enjoyed return to the country

Organisers of the Nottinghamshire County Show say it will return as a one-day event again next year after a new format and focus on its rural roots saw a bumper crowd flocking through the gates.

The Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society, which hosted the show at the Newark Showground on May 13, says the event attracted more than 14,000 people in total.

This was thanks to its mixture of competitions, trade stands, animals, music and entertainment — helped by a spell of hot and sunny weather.

The attendance was in line with the total the show would have attracted over the former two-day format.

However, figures show there was a significant rise in attendance of people aged under 17 — with 30% more compared to previous county show years.

This is being put down to a rise in families attending and the organisers’ efforts to engage younger people in countryside living.

The show committee decided to reduce the show to one day during talks over lockdown — when the show was forced to take a two-year break because of covid regulations.

Members also agreed to focus more on the heart of the show — the rural traditions and the huge contribution that the agricultural sector makes to the economy and way of life of the county and the food industry.

Members also wanted to tap into the popularity of TV farming programmes — including Clarkson’s Farm, Kelvin’s Big Farming Adventure and Channel Five’s Springtime on the Farm.

Elizabeth Halsall, organiser of the show, said: “We have had a great deal of tremendous feedback from visitors and competitors saying how much they preferred the new one-day format and the attendance figures certainly supported the decision to switch.

“The turnout beat all of our expectations and there is no doubt returning the show to its agricultural roots was the right decision, especially since it gave a new generation of younger visitors a glimpse into rural life.”