Make wah-hey while the sun shines in celebration of all things agricultural
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The Royal Highland Show (RHS), Scotland’s largest outdoor event and a landmark occasion for the farming sector, has a long-term commitment to sustainability, reflecting changes across the wider agricultural community.
The RHS, from the charity the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), is Scotland's top annual outdoor celebration of farming, food, and rural life. Held every June at the Royal Highland Centre (RHC) in Ingliston on the outskirts of Edinburgh, it attracts more than 200,000 visitors to experience thousands of competition animals, heavy machinery and Scottish produce.
In advance of this year’s Show - taking place from Thursday 18th to Sunday 21st June - Hannah Learmond, RHC event manager on special projects and the venue’s environmental lead, and John Jamieson of Upper Locharwoods Farm, an organic dairy farm in Ruthwell near Dumfries and the Show’s dairy director, shared their thoughts with The Scotsman’s Sustainable Scotland podcast.
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They explained the steps being taken to ensure the Show is sustainable, while appealing to diverse visitors from farmers to families.
Setting the scene, John - whose family farm was awarded Sustainable Farm of the Year at the Scottish Agricultural Awards - said: “My association with the Royal Highland Show has been forever. I've always enjoyed attending the Show as a spectator, exhibitor and now as a director. I’m keen to support it as it is so important to rural and farming communities. It’s important that we all congregate and share our interests once a year at the Highland Show.”
Hannah commented: “The Royal Highland Show is a great event, and it’s massive. There’s a lot to do from an agricultural perspective. But even if you’re not from the agricultural world there is plenty to be interested in. For example, we have an arena with demonstrations from workers in the forestry industry, and another that shows the best of country living.”
Focusing on sustainability, John said: “It has become more topical within the industry. In the past, it probably didn’t get the focus it deserved in the past. The industry now recognises that sustainability is the way forward.”
Many steps have been taken to make the RHS, and the RHC, even more sustainable than before. Hannah explained: “The RHC is a great venue for producing sustainable events. We have a large volume of permanent buildings, toilet blocks and in-house electricity. It means less temporary measures are needed at the venue.”
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For more on the Royal Highland Show, including how to buy tickets visit here