The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Events => Scottish Smallholder & Grower Festival => Topic started by: Dan on October 02, 2012, 01:23:43 pm
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If you have any feedback about the Scottish Smallholder & Grower Festival please complete our online form at:
http://www.scottishsmallholdershow.co.uk/feedback/ (http://www.scottishsmallholdershow.co.uk/feedback/)
We're interested in feedback from those who were there and those who weren't - if you didn't/couldn't make it, is there anything we can do next year to tempt you along?
All feedback welcomed, we're keen to know what went well for visitors and what didn't go so well, so we can improve next year.
Thanks,
Dan
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Sounded great - if you moved the event to Sussex next year, I'd definately go along :)
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Sounded great - if you moved the event to Sussex next year, I'd definately go along :)
LOL, Ardingly would be a great venue, not sure how successful it would be though! :D
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Keep it up here, please. There are enough events for smallholders to go to down South already. It was brilliant day, my only regret was I didn't get enough time to have a proper look round all the trade and craft stalls and the poultry etc., missed all the talks too. Some friends from Aberdeenshire went to some and enjoyed them. Looking forward to next year already!
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Absolutely - let this be for Scots and north-of-Englanders, please! ;D
However... I know Lanark is booked for 2013, so that date is set - but any chance of making it not clash with Masham Sheep Fair in subsequent years? :eyelashes: (Especially the years it's in the southern half of Scotland.) And I don't know if the Scottish Fibre Crafters Friendship Day is an annual event, and/or always in Perth, but that must have kept a lot of fibre crafters away.
(Of course, longer term, SSGF will be a 2-day affair, so we can all go to it and another more local event... :-J :D)
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I thought about suggesting 2 days, Sally, but then I selfishly thought it would mean an overnighter for us, and we can't both leave the farm for that long , so I still wouldn't be able to get a ;proper look around. When I made the trip through the crafts etc., to get the loo the buzz was terrific (not so much actually in the loo) although I did think the loo paper was VERY posh for a mart. Wondered if Rosemary had it put in specially for the day!!!!!
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Also meant to say, I didn't know there was a fibre day on, but we did have quite a bit of interest in our longwools from spinners, which I was thrilled about. It is very difficult when setting up a new event not to clash with anything, often it's only after you set the date that you realise. With our vintage bike events we have a handbook which is supposed to list all events of the vintage persuasion including cars, tractors, steam engines etc., but we still sometimes manage to clash.
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although I did think the loo paper was VERY posh for a mart. Wondered if Rosemary had it put in specially for the day!!!!!
Only the best ;D
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Hi Sally, if a Southerner wants to attend the show next year would I be welcome?? :-J :wave:
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Hi Sally, if a Southerner wants to attend the show next year would I be welcome?? :-J :wave:
Of course! :thumbsup:
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next years show is easier to access for southerners as well, lanark is in easy reach of the M74 (the big road that continues off the end of the M6) or even glasgow airport if your not bringing stock etc.
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Missed this because of a trip South to our Club weekend - would have been better staying at home as it turns out, so I'll definitely be at SSGF next September!
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Was there a particular reason for it being on a Sunday? It made it too hard to get back in time to be fit for work on Monday morning so I couldn't get there this year :-\ and it sounds as though it was great :thumbsup:
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Was there a particular reason for it being on a Sunday? quote]
It was the day we could get the venue as they had a cattle sale on the Saturday. TBH we got a lot of positives about it being on a Sunday.
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Was there a particular reason for it being on a Sunday? quote]
It was the day we could get the venue as they had a cattle sale on the Saturday. TBH we got a lot of positives about it being on a Sunday.
Actually my girls would prefer the Saturday too, so we can travel there on a Friday and they get the day off school.... :-J
But I do like Sunday!
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I like the Sunday too, I was glad to be able to transport my pig the day before and to bring her back without worrying about rush-hour traffic. I did get some interesting comments, while unloading her, from the football fans who were leaving the adjoining ground :D
I was bloody glad to have Monday off, but would have been fit to work if I'd had to. If it'd been on a Saturday I would have had to travel up on the Friday, which would have meant taking Friday afternoon off work. Having it on Sunday meant that my husband was around to help me load her, and to look after the other animals while I was away. So I'd vote for Sunday for future shows!
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I was very sad to miss the festival. We decided it was too far to travel home on Sunday for our young son going to school Monday. Another year or two's time perhaps :fc: unless it was extended to Saturday of course ;)
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I was very sad to miss the festival. We decided it was too far to travel home on Sunday for our young son going to school Monday. Another year or two's time perhaps :fc: unless it was extended to Saturday of course ;)
It's in Lanark next year... much closer for us Englanders! :thumbsup:
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I only missed it due to our Group Shetland show which should have been the middle of October, Someone forgot to book the venue. Sunday is a good day I think. less people needing time of work and a good day out for the locals. Lanark will be great as I can visit mum at the same time during that weekend.
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It's in Lanark next year... much closer for us Englanders! :thumbsup:
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Just checked out where Lanark is from here. 2.5hrs whooopeeee. Will see you all there next year :excited:
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It's in Lanark next year... much closer for us Englanders! :thumbsup:
Just checked out where Lanark is from here. 2.5hrs whooopeeee. Will see you all there next year :excited:
:excited: YEssssssSSS!! Help with the Spinning :knit: :knit:, Help with the :knit: Spinning :excited: :excited:
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So sad not to have been there - but Rosemary, Dan, just think of everything this little website has come to, you're a big part of something that will be noted down in social history as a quiet revolution in the way people live today, it's quite an amazing feat really. And an awful lot of hard work I bet. :relief:
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One of the biggest "surprises" has been the amount of work AFTER the event ;D
But we've almost got our feet cleared, just the accounts to do :'( then a couple of weeks off, before starting to plan the next one.
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J
One of the biggest "surprises" has been the amount of work AFTER the event ;D
But we've almost got our feet cleared, just the accounts to do :'( then a couple of weeks off, before starting to plan the next one.
JUST the accounts to do! You must be better at it than we are.......
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We travelled down from north of Aberdeen to the show as a family and really enjoyed ourselves. As fairly new smallholders we got lots of information from some very enthusiastic breed representatives and had lots of our questions answered (and a few ideas put in our heads).
I didn’t manage to attend any of the talks, but there looked to be lots of people at the ones that were going on. All in all from a non-exhibitor/visitor point of view it was very good and much more focused on my interests than many of the large agricultural shows I have been too.
The only comment I can ad is that maybe there could have been a couple of signs within Forfar as we drove all round the town before finding the mart.
Thanks for a good informative day out.
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Had a great time well done to all that took part. I enjoyed the demos especially the sausage making. Might consider a trade stand next year. I make handcrafted artisan soaps and Hubby makes chilli jellys sauces e.t.c. We aslso breed and sell rare breed chickens. Thanks to all for a great day.
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I was soooo glad it was on a Sunday - since my Saturday job is the only job I have, it would have been pretty impossible for me to go otherwise! Most things are on Saturdays, I always seem to miss out...
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The only comment I can ad is that maybe there could have been a couple of signs within Forfar as we drove all round the town before finding the mart.
Thanks for a good informative day out.
Some friends of ours, also from north of Aberdeen had the same trouble.
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Ummmm....
I have become dimly aware :dunce: that the 2013 Festival is now to be on the Saturday.
Which is good news for some - jaykay for one! - and less so for others (sorry Ina!) :(.
It still clashes with Massam Sheep Fair >:(. This year I intend to be at SSGF, but give fair warning that I'm not missing three Massams!
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Couldn't get Lanark as a venue on a Sunday, so Saturday it had to be, I'm afraid.
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Sadly now same date as the Hebridean Sheep Society and Rare Breed Sale at Caledonian Mart Stirling on 28th September - not good for either event! :'( - Sunday next year please !
Really enjoyed showing birds last year at Forfar and had hoped to do so again but sadly only one sale for the sheep breed so can't be there sorry.
I see from the Lawrie and symington website its a car boot sale on the Sunday! >:(
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Sadly now same date as the Hebridean Sheep Society and Rare Breed Sale at Caledonian Mart Stirling on 28th September - not good for either event! :'( - Sunday next year please !
Really enjoyed showing birds last year at Forfar and had hoped to do so again but sadly only one sale for the sheep breed so can't be there sorry.
I see from the Lawrie and symington website its a car boot sale on the Sunday! >:(
That's a real shame - we did check all the dates that were pbished but Caley aren't very good at that.
Maybe the Hebs should move the show and sale to the Festival like the Dexter cattle ;)
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Your right you normally get two weeks warning :D suprised its out this early - so few things for country folk its Sods law in action
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Sadly now same date as the Hebridean Sheep Society and Rare Breed Sale at Caledonian Mart Stirling on 28th September - not good for either event! :'( - Sunday next year please !
Really enjoyed showing birds last year at Forfar and had hoped to do so again but sadly only one sale for the sheep breed so can't be there sorry.
I see from the Lawrie and symington website its a car boot sale on the Sunday! >:(
That's a real shame - we did check all the dates that were pbished but Caley aren't very good at that.
Maybe the Hebs should move the show and sale to the Festival like the Dexter cattle ;)
The end of Sept date is the same each year for the Heb S&S plus Rare Breeds at Caley Marts. For the Hebs, the S&S was moved down from Oban, so going even further south would put it out of reach of the Highlands and too close to Carlisle. I think it was contemplated having it at Lanark, but it would have been in August with the Shetland S&S and was decided against.
Were the HSS to move to Lanark for just one year, the Rare Breeds sale at Caley would probably fold so it wouldn't be there for us the following year. Unfortunately any change would be bad for the HSS in both the long and short term. Still, I will put it to them.
All being well, we should have a couple of Hebs at Lanark, unless we need to check for a new tup at Stirling - will know closer to the time. Maybe people will manage both shows ie one partner going to one, the other to the other.
It is a huge shame that the clash has occurred, as Lanark is in the heart of Heb country (ie plenty of owners around) and we had hoped for a good turnout this year :( . However, there are so many other events round about that time that there is always going to be a clash with something.
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Aha - I should have checked the info as the Hebridean Sheep Society Show and Sale and the Stirling Rare Breeds Sale are in fact on Sept 21st, so no clash :relief: . I have just heard back from the Chairman of HSS who has found that the date printed in the HSS Blackboard (newsletter) was incorrect, so that will be changed in the next edition.
So - panic over and we can all go to both events :excited: :knit:
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Thank Fleecewife / apologies Dan / Rosemary hope to make it now ;D
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So - panic over and we can all go to both events :excited: :knit:
:relief: :relief: :relief:
:excited: :excited: :excited:
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:relief: :relief: :relief: :excited: :excited: :excited: indeed
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I have just realised the 2013 show is in Lanark and I must admit I feel really disappointed. At least the Forfar venue was reasonably central (if a little far from West coast and far North). But now it’s moved south of Edinburgh smallholders in the North are left with very large journeys if they want to attend.
I’m sorry it moved, I won’t be going this year. Feels like something else being taken away from country down to the city.
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I have just realised the 2013 show is in Lanark and I must admit I feel really disappointed. At least the Forfar venue was reasonably central (if a little far from West coast and far North). But now it’s moved south of Edinburgh smallholders in the North are left with very large journeys if they want to attend. I’m sorry it moved, I won’t be going this year. Feels like something else being taken away from country down to the city.
Sorry you feel that way, but we'll be back! We always intended to alternate the Festival each year between a 'northern' venue and a 'southern' venue.
Unfortunately there is no single venue in Scotland that is ideal for everyone, and we think that alternating the venue provides more opportunity for people to show and visit at least every other year, and keeps the event fresher - we expect to see a different emphasis in the breeds on show, and definitely get a different range of attractions and stands.
We'll be back north of the central belt again in 2014, and hope to be able to announce the venue soon. :)
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I realise I live in the north and everywhere is far away ....
Edinburgh to Lanark 33miles - to Forfar 74miles
Glasgow to Lanark 27miles - to Forfar 93miles
Aberdeen to Lanark 151miles - to Forfar 53miles
Even when it's in the 'north' it's not close - difficult for those north of Inverness or in the west.