2015 Programme of Events

The full programme of events for the 2015 Scottish Smallholder & Grower Festival has been finalised, with a wide range of topics of interest to smallholders and aspiring smallholders of all abilities and levels of experience.

Zero Waste Scotland at the Festival

The programme includes a keynote session in association with Zero Waste Scotland and the Nordic Fashion Association aimed at kick-starting discussion about re-invigorating the rearing of rare and traditional breeds of sheep for fibre production, in acknowledgement of the role sheep’s wool and other fleece products can play in the Circular Economy.

In a similar vein the Festival welcomes back Sue Blacker of The Natural Fibre Company who will be presenting a session for those who ask every year, “What to do with my fleece?”.

Practical demonstrations and hands-on sessions

New for 2015 are a series of practical demonstrations and hands-on sessions, taking place in the main trade hall throughout the day and including pruning fruit trees, Love Your Clothes, and weaving with willow.

Seminar programme highlights

The seminar programme includes several slots for those new to smallholding, with introductory sessions for both poultry and pigs expected to be popular with visitors. For those already keeping livestock, sessions on liver fluke, grassland management, livestock ID, and the direct selling of produce will be of particular interest.

There’s lots more too – family forestry, a pig butchery demonstration, polytunnels with Mark Gatter, beekeeping, rare breeds, and biosecurity.

Full details of all sessions can be found on the Programme of Events page on the Festival website.

Equines

For the first time at the Festival we are showcasing working equine breeds from Scotland and further afield. The equine area is a must-see for anyone interested in working ponies and horses.

Read more on the Our equine heritage page of the Festival website.

And more…

And there’s more – vintage machinery, apple pressing, and of course the judging of livestock, poultry and waterfowl, and garden, craft and kitchen classes, including Scotland’s only alpaca and pig shows.

The Festival takes place at Lanark Agricultural Centre on Saturday 26th September 2015, doors open at 9:00am with judging and seminars starting at 9:30am. Tickets cost £10 for adults with free entry for children under 16, and free parking.