The Farmers' Union of Wales will welcome visitors to the Cardiff Country Fair at the end of the month with a taste of rural life and food production in a bid to bring the countryside closer to those who live in towns and cities.
Taking place on Saturday and Sunday (September 27-28) at Cardiff Castle, the country fair showcases the essence of rural Wales and celebrates the best of farming, food and the countryside from across the UK.
The FUW will distribute free cotton bags to highlight the international year of the family farm at the union's mobile display unit during the event and will be offering a number of activities for children and are joined by staff from FUW Insurance Ltd, Keep Wales Tidy, and Ty Hafan children's hospice.
As a member of the Wales pollinator taskforce, on Sunday September 28, the FUW will be promoting the importance of pollinators, with activities for children, a 'virtual' hive, and information about honey bees and beekeeping for both adults and youngsters.
Visitors to the Cardiff Country Fair, which is supported by Brace's Bread and Hybu Cig Cymru - Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), will find an array of livestock and farm animals along the Castle Mews including cows, sheep, goats and pigs. While younger visitors can get up close to rabbits and guinea pigs in the Cwtch Corner inside Cardiff Castle.
The packed program also features other animal attractions such as the Quack Pack, birds of prey, Falconry displays, Lurchers, chicks and ducklings not to mention ferret racing.
Other show highlights include livestock displays of sheep, cattle, goats and pigs. A wealth of demonstrations and master classes are on offer, designed to educate and inspire visitors to keep bees, chickens or even birth a lamb.
The Fair once again features traditional countryside games such as Tug of War and Cheese Skittles, along with the not so traditional sports of giant jenga and welly wanging.
FUW president Emyr Jones said: "Cardiff Country Fair is an exciting event which promotes a closer understanding between food producers and consumers. It combines a great day out with learning more about the countryside, food and its producers. We attended the inaugural event last year and are very much looking forward to being there again this year.
"Our attendance at an event like the Cardiff Country Fair is important in helping to inform people living in urban areas how important it is for them to support our efforts to sustain the rural way of life and all the benefits that go with that."
Tickets for the Cardiff Country Fair are on sale now and can be purchased online or by calling 02920 230130. For more information, visit www.cardiffcountryfair.com
