The South of England Show is set to return on June 5, 6 and 7 at the South of England Showground near Ardingly, bringing three days of countryside competitions, displays and family attractions back to the High Weald.
For visitors deciding whether to go, the draw is broad: agricultural and equestrian displays, international showjumping, heavy horse displays, livestock judging, machinery demonstrations, search and rescue dog displays, wood chopping, forestry, falconry and fly casting all feature on the programme. Jamie Squibb Freestyle Motocross Display Team is set to headline the show, adding a louder edge to an event that also includes live entertainment, heritage displays, craft workshops, and rows of food, drink and shopping stands.
The timing matters because tickets are already on sale, and the savings do not last long. Adult tickets are priced at £25.20 and senior and student tickets at £23.40, a 10 percent discount on advance purchases that runs until May 28. After that date, adult tickets rise to £28 and senior and student tickets to £26, while under 16s go free when accompanied by a paying adult, with a £2 donation suggested.
The show is organised by the South of England Agricultural Society, a registered charity that supports agricultural education and countryside learning across Berkshire, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Surrey, and East and West Sussex. Its showground covers 150 acres on the outskirts of Ardingly and sits in the heart of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is part of why the annual event has long been described as a traditional country show with a wide reach.
What remains unanswered is how many people will turn up over the three days. The gates open at 9am and close at 6.30pm each day, so the show now has a fixed date, fixed place and fixed price change — and for anyone planning a visit, the next deadline is May 28.
