Thousands visit show despite wet weather

THOUSANDS of people descended on Ardingly despite a wet start to this year's South of England Show.

The annual event was the greenest in its 43-year history with recycle zones, environmentally friendly toilets and its very own EcoVillage.

SKILLFUL: Peter Cronin shows visitors how horseshoes are made
CROWDS: Thousands of people braved the wet weather at the South of England Show and, below, Barry Newman from the National Vegetable Society, with its colourful display
SHEARING SKILLS: Crowds gathered to watch the sheep shear show which ended with the animals dancing
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR: Marcy Ferguson, 5, counting the dots of a Holstein cow
GOT IT: The Light Cavalry HAC Mounted Skill at Arms show off their skills in the Ardingly Ring
GOT IT: The Light Cavalry HAC Mounted Skill at Arms show off their skills in the Ardingly Ring
HARD AT WORK: Joe Gillings from Haywatds Heath shoeing a horse
EAR WE GO: Stewards Ann Matlock, Pam Chambers and Ray Winkles get the rabbits ready for judging in the fur tent
UP CLOSE: Jack Cogram, Ben Lott and Arthur Pannell stroke a Peking chicken and a white duck
ALL ABOARD: Tony Sullivan, Tim Baker and Bob McClean from Bluebell Railway with one of their engines
EGGS-CELENT DISPLAY: John Bishop next to Karyn Clotte from the Arun Valley Poultry Society
SPRUCING UP: Competitors get a quick wash down with Reece Grenham's jet washer
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER: Bubbles and baby Lily, pure highland cattle, with Rob and Sandy Tedbury
WATCH YOUR SPEED: Ben Lott, 6, with Niall Griffin, operation manager from Sussex Safer Roads
CROWD PLEASER: Titan the Robot attracted large crowds at the South of England Show
TALENTED TUMBLERS: Members of the Sussex Springers perform
I, AM ROBOT: Titan the remote control robot entertains the crowds
DANGEROUS JOB: Tim Wilson prepares his cacti for sale in the flower tent
DOUGH CONTEST: Master baker Anthony Kindred shows off his skills
WE'LL MEET AGAIN: Dame Vera Lynn helped to judge and handed out awards to the winners of the Concours D'Elegance

Deborah Barber, the director of the South of England Agricultural Society, said: "As well as adopting an eco-friendly approach to our events and projects, it's now important to visibly demonstrate our green credentials to endorse our commitment to sustainability.

"That's why this year's show has a truly green flavour throughout."

As well as the green theme, this year's three-day event threw the spotlight on the plight of the bee – with the theme of the show being "the year of the bee".

Many of the exhibits and displays carried the theme and experts at the bee and honey tent worked hard to highlight the issues to the public.

Displays throughout the show included the judging of the animal classes, KitKar racing, parade of the hounds, the inter-hunt relay, a performance by The Royal Signals Band, and piggy pranks – an assault course completed by pigs.

One of the many entertainers wowing the crowds was an eight-foot robot called Titan.

The talking, walking, singing robot was surrounded every time it ventured out among the crowds.

During the three days of the show, thousands of animals were judged, including 1,509 horses and ponies, 258 beef cattle, 120 dairy cattle and 300 rabbits.

The show cost the South of England Agricultural Society £270,000 per day.