Events & Entertainment, Gillingham | Posted on August 14th, 2025 | return to news

Impressive rural and countryside show in Dorset attracts crowds

If you love farming, livestock and animals looking their finest, the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show is not to be missed.

The Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show got off to an excellent start yesterday and is on again all day today – 14 August.

The showground is so vast, it’s hard to cover the whole thing in a day especially if you want to watch some of the spectacular arena events too.

President, Baroness Minette Batters, said, “The show is very special and one of few that has remained a real agricultural show throughout.”

There was ample opportunity to talk to livestock vets, machinery dealerships, milking parlous specialists, agronomists and land agents.

Dorset View’s press team started by admiring the sheep and cattle being judged near the entrance. They talked to passionate owners about their stock and had many conversations about the smartly turned-out animals.

“We had the rare chance to come face to face with a soft-hearted gigantic bull called Norman,” said Janine Pulford. “We saw sheep of all shapes and sizes. Some had stunning fleeces and on asking, I discovered the yellow ones had been sprayed to give a golden look I’d not seen before. Opposite were horses and ponies being put through their paces. We could hear the arena events going on but couldn’t drag ourselves away from the quantity of much-loved livestock. It was such a rare event to get up close to the many magnificent breeds upon which our farming stock is based.

“On reflection we should have hurried over to see the jousting and the steam parade but we did manage to be part of the huge crowd enthralled by ferrets racing against each other at the Turnpike Ring where there was also a gun dog display, terrier racing and dog and sheep show. Later we caught the Tigers Motorcycle Display Team in the main arena which was a treat.”

There was no shortage of trade stands, food and drink outlets and live music. Some excellent acts including Belle Street who got everyone clapping.

An activity tent and fun fair made sure children had plenty to do.

The Sheep Show drew big audiences, and activities to watch such as dry-stone walling and thatching provided insight into traditional crafts.

Carol, from Verwood said, “It was my first visit to this show, and it was really enjoyable. Although the specific theme of farming runs throughout, it offers something for all the family.”

A horticultural tent was full of all sorts of handicrafts and produce with seasoned grower Harry Godden scooping a number of prizes for his specimen vegetables including two marvellous stalks of pink celery.

Artists and photography competitions produced prize-winning displays, with some pieces available for sale.

Before the end of the day was the Grand Parade of stunning livestock took place with running commentary. The Heavy Horse Parade was spectacular. The cattle and sheep provided a number of smiles with a few tired animals having to be encouraged to walk in a straight line and one, with a golden fleece, clearly needed a rest and had to be helped around the ring. Well, it certainly was a grand day out for everyone, including the livestock.

If you live locally, it’s not too late to catch the afternoon Grand Parade today at 3.15pm. The Heavy Horse Parade is at 4.30pm as is the Terrier Racing.