Monday 5 June 2023

The Suffolk Show

 Last week I had my annual day out at the Suffolk Show - it was very chilly and very, very busy.  I watched some show jumping and the parade of the coaches with their horses from the grandstand but sitting still wasn't much fun in the cold wind - best to keep moving and go in and out of the marquees to get out of the chill.

There's plenty to see with over 900 stands - I doubt I looked at half of them!



The first photo I took was of these wood sculptures on a stand selling wood garden furniture.


I was on my way to the Grandstand to watch the first session of show jumping and it wasn't very busy at 8.30.


Huge machines all around the showground

Lots of screams coming from this giant inflatable slide - one of the things that was extra expense 


Suffolk Bee Keepers stand is always interesting. Some honey available to buy and these below here for judging but how on earth do the judges pick the best from all these jars of honey?



On my way to the big Flower Show Pavilion I passed this stand of carnivorous plants and they must be the in thing at the moment because there was another stand inside the pavilion also selling them.




Beautiful Hostas - so many different types. I used to have lots at the smallholding and several at Clay Cottage. I only have one now and this display made me think about looking out for some others at boot sales. Mickfield Hostas are local to me in Mid Suffolk


Another local company - Potash Fuchsias - from Bacton. They had been at The Royal Chelsea  Flower Show before coming to Ipswich



I'm not sure that I like Bonsai - bit like keeping a bird in a cage, I reckon trees should be allowed to grow free and tall!


Just one of the many flower arrangements here to be judged.


These Library Labradors were in the Suffolk Libraries marquee. They have been decorated and sponsored by various people and companies and will later be displayed around Suffolk in the libraries before being auctioned. More about them HERE


A stand promoting National Trust Sutton Hoo where I will be visiting sometime later this year



There's a small display of old tractors

In the art exhibition this giant pot stood out

I went all round the art exhibition but only really liked this owl

A couple of wooden sculptures and paintings in the background


I didn't go and take photos of the cows, pigs, sheep, goats this year. But the Suffolk Punches were being shown and judged in one of the small rings as I went by

And finally, three of the Carriages and teams that once would have been so common on the countries roads before railways. Some teams had travelled all the way down from Scotland (in a truck and horsebox- not on the road!) to show off their finery for us in Suffolk.





I took some food and water with me but spent some money on a hot coffee, a large and delicious vegetable samosa and a proper ice cream but avoided temptation at all the craft, clothes and garden stands and just picked up this book for 50p from a table of second hand books at the Samaritans marquee.

It's getting to be  a very tiring day out as I get older but I expect in the autumn when they send me an email about early bird tickets for 2024  I'll be tempted all over again. 


Back Tomorrow
Sue



42 comments:

  1. I'm glad you had a lovely day out, but the big county shows are not for me, I find them overwhelming. I much prefer the local ones where all the stands encircle the ring and you don't have to forfeit seeing displays of anything. Also, ours is over £25 a ticket per day! That owl painting is superb. I'm really looking forward to when you visit Sutton Hoo.

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    1. We don't have so many smaller shows in Suffolk - I can only think of two and they are both in May just a week or two weeks before the big Suffolk and further away too

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  2. Yes, I can see it would be tiring, there's so much to see! Those black carriage horses are magnificent, as are the Suffolk Punches. It's years since we've been to a show like that, mainly too expensive nowadays but also because we wouldn't want to leave Betty home alone all day (she wouldn't like it at the show, she gets anxious in crowds - bit like me!).

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    1. I used to wonder about going both days but now that would be even more tiring

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  3. Looks great. I no longer enjoy the walking around as it makes me ache too much. A nice few days now we are back to grey skies:(

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    1. I don't like this grey with no rain. I've just watered everything - despite having to use mains - don't really want to lose all I've planted

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  4. I considered going to the Norfolk Show, but OAP tickets are £23 and a further £8 for parking. Add in a coffee and an ice cream, and it is an expensive day out. (Parking at the Suffolk Show is free, I notice) Maybe next year

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    1. Free parking has made it quicker to get in the car parks which has solved traffic jams and they added it to the entrance price. But by the time I go in May I've forgotten how much I paid back in October!

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  5. In our younger years we always went to the Bath and West show, it's too far to travel now for a day visit. County shows have got huge, but at their heart it's the same as it always was.

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    1. The Bath and West is famously huge and prestigious prizes for animals too

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  6. So many interesting things to see but a shame the weather could have been kinder.

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    1. It really was chilly - even in the Grandstand. Brother in Law went the second day and he said it was a bit warmer

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  7. i would love to go to our county show this year, havent been for about 10 years but mr grumpy wont hear of it , bloody farmers , waste of money etc etc etc

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    1. The Suffolk is more of a family event - although they still have lots of big machines and the farmers still dress up in their best!

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  8. So like the New Forest Show when we used to go. My favourite thing was always the heavy horse parade; the horses and their drays, bakers' vans etc. all gleaming. Nice to see there were Suffolk Punches there.

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    1. I enjoy the show jumping and horse things even though I'm not a horse fan

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  9. It all looks amazing and those wooden horses are stunning. One really couldn't do it all in one day!
    I've never been to a County Show. Maybe I ought to one day. xx

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    1. There used to be an Essex County Show but not sure that still happens

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  10. I am glad you went for us, the photos, especially of the horses, are marvellous. Must be very tiring though having to take it all in.

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    1. Anon not. It's me Thelma!

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    2. I always enjoy it - even though it's tiring

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  11. Those big wooden sculptures are amazing. There were some beautiful horses there. What a lovely fair.
    Cathy

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    1. Can't imagine anyone bought a sculpture to carry home!

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  12. I know what you mean about days out been tiring! I had a lovely day yesterday in London, visiting the Garden Museum. Then did lots of walking and looking around. I really enjoyed myself, but I'm shattered today!

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    1. The pavements always seemed extra hard to walk on on the few occasions I've been to London

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  13. All I know about Suffolk and horses is the Suffolk Punch and you came through! I love these great horses. As much as the Cleveland Bay, another huge breed.

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  14. It was great seeing your pics of the Show, so much to enjoy but I have to choose the library Labradors as my favourite - we have a lovely honey Labrador.........
    Alison in Wales x

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    1. I guess they won't have one of the Labradors on the library van - Not enough room!

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  15. Potash. Fuchsias started about a mile from where I live in Essex. I remember going to look at the display each year and buying just one little plant. One is still growing in my garden.

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    1. I didn't know they were once in Essex, they've been in Bacton for years now

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  16. What lovely displays! I love hostas. They are such a carefree addition to fill in a garden, but unfortunately, here, the deer LOVE them and nibble them down to nothing, so they won't be much help at the new house. I guess that I never realized there was such a variety of carnivorous plants. I just knew of the the venus flytrap. My grandson wanted one desperately, but it died within days. I never quite figured out what we did to it.

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    1. There are so many different Hostas - It's slugs that eat them here

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  17. Looks like a fun day outing! Reminds me of the County fairs we have around here, altho, I haven't been since my kids were little!
    So much to look at and you did a great job of not spending too much money!

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    1. There's plenty for children to do at this big show. I expect I will go again next year

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  18. I always come away from summer shows slightly disappointed and yet go again the next year. My favourite is the tents with exhibitions of craft and cooking and kids drawings. I don't really like all the animals, which rather misses much of the point I suppose - but there you have it!

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  19. The Show looks outstanding with so many interesting displays and events. The horses and carriages are phenomenal. I also like hosta and had a hosta shade garden underneath a pine tree grove. I planted like hosta in triangulation. There were probably 15 different varieties. My favorite was Montana with large green and white leaves. Sadly, the white tail deer found the garden and ate everything.

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  20. I enjoyed viewing photos you shared on your post. I liked seeing the horses and farm tractors, etc. I miss going to shows in Oregon but hope to sometime this year. I used to have hosta plants as well. but not sure where I would be able to put it.

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  21. Do you have "eading to dogs" in your libraries. Very popular here. The dogs never interrupt, except for the occasional lick, and it gives struggling readers a confidence boost.

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  22. Thanks for sharing your photos of the Suffolk Show. We always used to go when I was a child. It was such a treat! We used to love collecting badges and all the things they used to give away lol.

    My neice and great-nephew were on the front of the Ipswich Star when they attended the Suffolk Show! They had a great time.

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  23. What a lovely show. I think my favourites would be the flowers and the horses.

    God bless.

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  24. It looks like a fantastic day out, and yes ... you know that you will be tempted all over again for next years tickets. :-)

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