Connect with countryside at spectacular

Whatever your interests, the show's Farming and Wildlife Area offers a wealth of opportunities to find out more about rural life.

Have a go at pond dipping, for example, and take a close- up look at wildlife in the lake, try fly casting and watch demonstrations by students from Plumpton Agricultural College.

Try your hand at milking Buttercup the model cow and find out how you can cut your food miles, thanks to a giant pizza.

Traditional country skills, including pole-lathe turning, hurdle-making, and forestry, will also be featured, with an opportunity to chat to the craftsmen involved and see them at work.

An action-packed line-up is promised for the three-day countryside spectacular at the South of England Centre.

It includes thousands of animals, from cute and cuddly rabbits to magnificent heavy horses, world-class show-jumping, parades of prize-winning cattle, motorcycle stunt displays, a roving robot show, a food hall brimming with local produce, stunning blooms in the flower marquee, hundreds of trade stands, a cookery theatre, crafts, displays, competitions and fairground.

The animals taking part will include 1,447 horses and ponies, 117 dairy cattle, 237 beef cattle, 51 pigs, 224 sheep, 80 goats and around 300 rabbits.

For full preview and more pictures see West Sussex Gazette June 4