IN LIGHT of the ongoing Covid-19 situation, Tynedale Agricultural Society has announced that it will not be running the Northumberland County Show on the scheduled date of May 31 this year.

With thousands of volunteers, competitors and traders, the one-day agricultural event usually welcomes over 26,000 visitors from across England's north-east, Cumbria, Yorkshire, Scotland and further afield.

Show chairman, Robert Raine, a farmer from East Woodburn, explained: “It is with a very heavy heart that we have taken this difficult decision, but with another lockdown in place and no sign of restrictions easing, we felt we could not take the risk to public health and the safety of our volunteers and staff.

"It takes several months of intense work to organise an event of this scale, but with the uncertainty of how long it will take to get back to some form of normality, it is just not possible to run the show this year. We are deeply sorry for the disappointment this will cause, but we are sure everyone understands that protecting our community and visitors is our number one priority.”

The Northumberland County Show has been held in various locations and under different names since the 1830s, and over its one hundred and ninety year history, has only been cancelled a handful of times – during each World War, and for the foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001.

Since 2013, the show has been held in the grounds and parkland surrounding Bywell Hall, near Stocksfield, the home of Lord and Lady Allendale and their family, where its proximity to a railway station, good road links and extensive parking has made it a popular destination for families on the last Bank Holiday in May.

Maintaining a positive outlook, Mr Raine added: “The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations next year give us the perfect platform to plan for an extra-special Northumberland County Show. In a break with tradition, the show will be held on Friday, June 3, 2022, which is an extra Bank Holiday. With a two year break behind us, we will all have something very exciting to look forward to and it will be absolutely spectacular!”

If you have any questions regarding the Northumberland County Show cancellation, or its plans for 2021, contact info@northcountyshow.co.uk.