Press Releases 2008

7 May 2008

Royal Show gears up to be Britain’s biggest outdoor Classroom

This year, the Royal Show is making a massive effort to connect the nation’s school children with the real world of farming, rural life and also food production.

Three of the country’s major food retailers have put aside High Street competition and are all sponsoring the show’s Education Trail and associated initiatives.

“We are delighted with the support that many of the supermarkets are giving to the Royal Show this year in a variety of ways” said Simon Frere-Cook, Royal Show Director.

Around 4,000 school children are expected to make the annual visit to the Show at Stoneleigh, and will be given the opportunity to explore the work of those living in the countryside, how food is produced and the leisure activities available in the great outdoors.

The 2008 event will come at the end of the Year of Food and Farming, in which Royal Show organisers, the Royal Agricultural Society of England, has taken a central role – hosting a number of events and managing the national budget. The Education Trail will support the legacy of this by continuing to bring education and farming closer together.

“With the Show’s association with the Year of Food and Farming in education, there is a great opportunity for the Show to reach a very wide audience and through education trails, demonstrations and the provision of local, regional and British produce we will help to promote the importance of agriculture and farming to children and their families”.

For further information on the Royal Show please visit www.royalshow.org.uk.

- Ends -

Notes to Editors

1. Press release issued by Julie Bublaitis, Marketing Assistant, Royal Show.
   Tel: 02476 858 217 Email: julieb@rase.org.uk
    
2. Quote from ASDA - “Being a sponsor of the Education Trail is a great opportunity for ASDA, following our launch of the ‘Connecting Children Initiative’ in March this year. It is important for children to understand where their food comes from, how the countryside works, its importance to life in Britain and the benefits of eating fresh, locally produced food” said Pearce Hughes, Agricultural Development Manager at ASDA.
    
3. Quote from Co-op - “The Co-operative is proud to be involved with the Royal Show, as it marries perfectly with our Good with Food ethos and our commitment to British food. We hope that our sponsorship of the education trail will inspire and inform the younger visitors, and teach them more about food and how it is produced” said Debbie Robinson, Director of Food Retail Marketing, The Co-operative.
    
4. Quote from Waitrose - “Waitrose Education is delighted to sponsor the Education Trail at this year’s Royal Show” said Tim Daly, Marketing Manager at Waitrose.

“It will be an excellent opportunity for us to communicate our education message of teaching children where their food comes from and being involved in introducing children and their families into many areas of the countryside”.