The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), is hiding 1920 cuddly toy sheep across Scotland this Easter in the first of a year-long programme of events to celebrate its 240th anniversary.

From Monday, March 25, the free family fun event will see hundreds of sheep hiding across the country with the cuddly flock safely stowed away at shopping centres, farm shops, tourist destinations, and agricultural centres.

As a nod to the eight regions that used to host the Royal Highland Show before it became a one-location event in Scotland’s Capital in 1960, sheep will be hidden in the eight RHASS regions of Scotland; Edinburgh and Lothians, the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Strathclyde, Stirling, Perth, Aberdeen, Highlands and Islands in both rural and urban landscapes.

The first to find a sheep can keep the sheep and be in with the chance of winning one of eight VIP experiences at the Royal Highland Show 2024. Those who find one of the lost flock can simply scan the QR code on the sheep’s ear tag to discover if they are a winner.

With spring an important season in the agricultural calendar, each ear tag code will also reveal five farming facts including insights on lambing, crop sowing and more, as well as raising awareness about the farming sector and the important issues facing the rural community.

In addition to Hide and Sheep, this year will also see RHASS launch a mass Munro challenge, a series of Harvest Thanksgiving services, and a yearlong audio and visual storytelling project.

The planned activities all aim to raise greater awareness around key times in the agricultural calendar, unheard stories from across the sector, and issues that face the rural community and will all generate funds for land initiatives preserving Scotland's countryside.

RHASS chairman, Jim Warnock, said; “It is a great honour to chair RHASS during its 240th Anniversary year. We hope Hide and Sheep alongside our other family-friendly events this year encourage people across Scotland to learn more about the Scottish agricultural community, the challenges they face, and the important role they play within Scotland.”

For more information on Hide & Sheep please visit https://www.royalhighlandshow.org/rhass-240/hide-sheep/. For those who don’t manage to find a sheep, they are also available to buy on the Royal Highland Show website