Despite cancelling the Melplash Show due to uncertainties regarding the staging of large events in 2021, we are determined to continue to deliver our charitable aim and promise of promoting agriculture in West Dorset.  Society Chairman, James Vickery commented, ‘Thanks to our members and sponsors who have continued to support our charity this year we are able to host several educational and community events as well as competitions which we hope many of you will take part in.  In addition, our Discover Farming education programme, aimed at teaching our younger generation more about farming and food production, will be offering lots of resources and information’.

The following events and competitions are currently being planned and more information on each event will be posted on our website soon:

• The Garden & Allotment, Farm and Flock competitions in June and July
• A Craft competition including classes for children in August
• A Horticulture and Home Produce competition later in the year
• A Farm Produce show in late Summer
• The annual Hedging & Ploughing match on Sunday 19th September at a site near Salway Ash, just outside Bridport
• A series of informative online webinars

Alongside, the Society’s Discover Farming team are investigating exciting ways to continue to educate young people about food, farming, and the environment and to inspire them to take up careers in agriculture.   More information will be available in due course but please do visit our Discover Farming website which is packed full of learning resources and activities for both teachers and children.

Applications for the Society’s annual Bursary, in place to assist and encourage further education, is now open.  Students aged 17 years and over who live within a 12-mile radius of Melplash Village Church and are about to embark or who are already studying agriculture, or any closely allied topic could be eligible for a bursary of up to £2,000 per annum.  Visit our Bursary section for more information and an application form.