Thousands of visitors flocked to Springtime Live today for the sell-out event which celebrated farming, food and the countryside.

More than 4,000 visitors enjoyed a feast of activities including meeting Peppa Pig and Shaun the Sheep.

This was the first Springtime Live event held since 2019 due to Covid and tickets sold out well in advance.

Show Director Charles Mills said: “This was our seventh Springtime Live and it’s been a real treat to be able to be back here doing what we do best, promoting farming and the countryside to the

public. It was terrific to see the enjoyment families have had visiting us here today.”

From farm animals and reptiles to fairground rides and cookery workshops, there was an array of animals from Ian’s Mobile Farm which is based in Aberford near Leeds, including rabbits, goats and donkeys.

Supervised alpaca walks were enjoyed by families, while Ferretworld’s Roadshow and Airedale Beagles drew visitors to the Animal Barn Arena.

The Rare Breeds Survival Trust hosted their national Young Shepherd of the Year finals at the event for the first time. Thomas Nash, 12, who had travelled all the way from Somerset was among the winners, claiming the Junior Young Shepherd of the Year title after an impressive display of handling with his Coloured Ryeland.

Ripon Farm Services donated mini tractors which youngsters enjoyed riding around an indoor circuit. An outdoor bike track, climbing walls and woodcrafts crafts also proved popular.

Springtime Live inspires the next generation about the countryside through play and activities, and raises funds for the Yorkshire Agricultural Society to help support farming families and to champion British agriculture.

EDITOR’S NOTES

• Springtime Live is organised by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society which also organises the Great Yorkshire Show.
• YAS supports and promotes the farming industry through health care, business, education and funding scientific research into rural affairs.
• YAS runs a family of businesses including Fodder, Yorkshire Event Centre, Pavilions of Harrogate and the Harrogate Caravan Park.

Violet Bentley, four, from York, left, and Rose Metcalfe, seven, from Harrogate, with the the animals from Orion Tree Alapacas.

Winner of the Young Shepherd of the Year Junior Final Thomas Nash with Benji the Coloured Ryeland.