Nidderdale takes its name from the River Nidd which runs through this Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It hosts an agricultural show each September in Pateley Bridge, a small town between Harrogate and Grassington and only four miles from the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
At this year’s Nidderdale Show, Kirstie Allsopp came along for an episode of her popular Channel 4 TV series Kirstie’s Handmade Britain. But she didn’t just take a look and leave – she got stuck in and made a Yorkshire pork pie and her own sausages. She also learnt the ins and outs of making brawn – a traditional dish made from pig’s heads, and sometimes known as pork cheese (Yorkshire folk don’t like to let anything go to waste, you know). Lots of preparation goes into putting on an agricultural show and Kirstie did her homework beforehand too – with local experts explaining how to make successful entries for the produce competitions at the Show.
The Nidderdale Show is said to be one of the country’s last proper agricultural shows and features one of the best exhibitions of animals in the UK – with first rate horse, livestock and dog sections.
Kirstie was fascinated by the Pig Section – and was given lots of background by Sarah Whitley, a young farmer from Nidderdale. Sarah is only 14 but has already clocked up years of expertise, having been born and bred on a local dairy, pig, and sheep farm. And Sarah’s got the awards to prove it. For the fourth year on the trot (so to speak) she made a clean sweep in the Pig Section awards, picking up Best in Show, Best Local Pig and Most Points in Show. Sarah has also won awards at three other major British Agricultural Shows.
Kirstie also took part in the All-Terrain-Vehicle challenge – still wearing a dress, she gamely put on a crash helmet and jumped on to a quad bike and finished the course in a very creditable time – and got a massive round of applause for doing so.
Kirstie later said that she’d had “an absolutely brilliant time” at the Nidderdale Show. “Everyone was so friendly & kind, perhaps the most beautiful showground we’ve visited”.
You can find out how Kirstie got on at the Nidderdale Show at 8.00 pm on Wednesday 30 November when Channel 4 screen this episode of Kirstie’s Handmade Britain.
Christmas present ideas – Kirstie Allsopp’s “Homemade Home” book and “Craft” Kindle Edition
For the creative members of the family who love to making things for the home, one or both of these books could be the perfect Christmas present.
Click on the images on the left to see the products on Amazon.
Next year’s Nidderdale Show will be held on Monday 24 September 2012. If you’d like accommodation in the Yorkshire Dales for the show or to visit this beautiful area of Yorkshire, check out the Yorkshire Dales cottages and Yorkshire Dales B&Bs on Hello Yorkshire.