Princess gives Sussex event royal seal

Princess Anne will be at the South of England Showground at Ardingly today (Thursday) to open the event, which runs until Saturday and will attract visitors from all over the region.

One of the star attractions, Australian stuntman Matt Coulter, better known as the Kangaroo Kid, said: “I’m particularly excited that Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal will be visiting the show this year. We have done a couple of shows at her residence, Gatcombe Park and have even jumped over her land rovers before.”

The Princess Royal will be welcomed to the show on Thursday by Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex, Susan Pyper, this year’s President of the Society, Lord Egremont and the chairman of organisers The South of England Agricultural Society, Michael Lambert.

The society is celebrating the Year of Horticulture this year and visitors can enjoy spectacular horticultural displays across the showground including: a wonderful ‘Windows of Horticulture’ exhibition in the flower marquee; an impressive ‘Victorian-style’ stumpery in the Wildlife, Farming and Forestry area; demonstrations from local school children; forestry displays and advice from the Forestry Commission and the Arboricultural Association, who will be celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The show is the biggest of its kind in the region and with over 2,500 entries received, 2014 will see the largest collection of some of the country’s finest specimens of livestock and horses for four years. Over 213 sheep, 111 pigs, 88 goats, 350 cattle and over 1,800 horses will be on display throughout the three days.

Collection boxes for the Children’s Society will be placed around the showground at the South of England Show and you can also donate at www.childrensociety.org.uk/donate

Key attractions include floral displays, show gardens, livestock displays, heavy horse turnouts, parade of hounds, the Shetland Pony Grand National and there will local food and drink will be showcased.

Gates open at 9am and close at 6.30pm daily and there is free parking, free entry for children under six and a regular bus shuttle service from Haywards Heath train station to the showground. Tickets cost £20, £7 for children and £18 for senior citizens and students.

For further information and for advance ticket discounts visit www.seas.org.uk or telephone 01444 892700.