A onetime vicar of Belford, the Rev Charles Robertson was the main instigator for the formation of the Floral and Horticultural Society. The first ever show was held in the grounds of Belford Hall on 12th September 1884. The Patrons were the squire, Mr George D Atkinson- Clark of Belford Hall and Mr J.T. Leather of Middleton Hall.
Today our Belford Village Show is still an annual community event held in Belford on the last Saturday in September. The show is organised by the Belford Show Committee as a service to the local community and is non-profit making. Our main sources of fundraising come from admission fees, fundraising events such as pub quizzes and the Belford Community Market and donations from local business and individuals. However due to the Covid pandemic restrictions our fundraising events have not been possible.
Please check back here, visit our Belford Village Show website or join and follow our Belford Village Show Facebook group for updated information.
The show will open to the public from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm and is held at Belford Football Field, The Meadows, Belford. The cups and prizes will be presented at approximately 4.00pm. All entries need to be brought to the show and staged by 10.30am on the morning of the show.
Now is the time to start making your decisions about what to plant, make or cook. Everyone of all ages is welcome to enter, whatever your experience, whether you are a gardener, or a home cook, or love handicrafts, this is your chance! There are 166 different classes in our schedule, something for absolutely everyone. And it is free to enter
We would like to see the best of your kitchen gardening. Enter fruits, vegetables or even flowers you have grown. The judges are looking for ripe, ready to eat, healthy produce. Preference will be given to produce that is fresh, clean, uniform and free from damage or disease. Please enter anything you can and help us celebrate trials, challenges, mishaps and occasional success and joy of culinary horticulture.
Our primary objective is to encourage community fun and inclusion for all, regardless of age or experience. With the emphasis on sharing knowledge and experience, we hope to ensure continued interest in growing, making and baking, particularly for our younger exhibitors.
So, without delay, get your green fingers wiggling and your allotments dug over, test your tastiest recipes and get your child’s imagination racing!
You can download our Belford Village Show 2023 schedule and application forms here (COMING SOON)
Good luck!
“Inaugural dog show and bumper crop of children’s entries ensure successful Belford Show“
The 104th Belford Show provided an afternoon of fun for all on a lovely autumnal Saturday. It is still a horticultural show but it has developed and adapted to be more inclusive with sections for photography, art, baking and produce, seen side by side with fruit, vegetables, flowers and flower arranging.
What is also impressive is the collaboration with Belford Primary School exhibiting hand written poems and artwork. This encourages children to enter the other sections dedicated to them including vegetable growing, baking and model making.
Janet Flynn, treasurer of the show committee, said: “We’ve had the largest number of children’s entries for years which is fabulous.”
Local community groups were able to promote themselves and raise funds, such as Bell View Resource Centre, Belford Primary School and Berwick Red Squirrels Group. Other local businesses had an outlet for selling items such as baking, drinks, crafts and photographs.
A new venture in 2022 was a dog show and this was a huge success. Competition was stiff in all sections but `Jet’, a rescue greyhound, was declared best in show to the delight of his owner Wall Wallace. Organiser Janet Peel was delighted with the response to this new venture.
Organising such an event takes time, effort and money. Many local people, businesses and groups sponsored the event, making it possible. Janet West, Chairperson of the Show Committee, said: “Without the financial backing of local people we could not run the show so we are very grateful for everybody’s support, both for sponsorship and turning up on the day. There are many volunteers who help without whom we could not put on the show. Their help is invaluable.”
Article: Kind permission of Ian Smith – Northumberland Gazette, 2022
Belford Village Show 