New Forest & Hampshire County Show with Oli & Jackie

 New Forest & Hampshire County Show

Two fabulous days were spent at the County Show which was full to burst with different breeds of animals. It was great to be so close to them and we even got to stroke and feed some of these fluffy sheep.

There were tents galore of wonderful homegrown produce and flowers, all hoping to win the all important first prize rosette. 

At the main arena we watched a fantastic show jumping competition. The beautiful horses and their riders were very skilled, and it was really exciting to watch. We couldn't believe the size and strength of of the Shire Horses as they pulled their carts around.

We explored the livestock area and got to see many different rare breeds of cows and sheep. They were all very well looked after and some of them were quite friendly and appreciated the fuss we made of them......as did these beautiful hunting dogs! 

The farm machinery on display was amazing. So many old fashioned tractors right through to modern day. 

The parachute display took our breath away. They  could be seen sky diving from a plane overhead and cascading down to the ground  with smoke flares blazing! 

A day was spent at Exbury House and Gardens. This 200+ acre estate has been established for over 100 years and is famous for its many visits from the Royal Family and for its own narrow gauge steam railway. We arrived just in time for a ride and we sat back and relaxed as we chugged along the winding route through the upper part of the grounds, through the rock garden, dragonfly ponds and woodland areas. After the ride we got to meet the train driver and the conductor and learnt all about the railway. 

We decided to stretch our legs and take a walk through the seasonal flowering hydrangea display and jubilee ponds; beautiful! 

We arrived at Bucklers Yard, an ancient riverside village famous for hundreds of years of ship building. First, we explored the fascinating museum which took us on a journey through the history of the area and showed us what life was like for people living in this unique settlement. The area focussed on building some of Britain’s most illustrious sailing ships, with a bit of smuggling and piracy thrown in for good measure! We took a cruise on the river and learnt all about the wildlife that inhabit the area.  

With the ancient city of Salisbury on our doorstep it would have been a shame not to see some of the sights. We drove into the main centre and parked up near Choristers Square. A village green was surrounded by old buildings and museums and this area is inhabited by people associated with the cathedral, working for their religion. We wandered over to the spectacular cathedral with its tall spire, the tallest in Europe! Inside we were amazed by the beauty and craftsmanship throughout. We even got to see the Magna Carta, an ancient document drawn up over 800 years ago to ensure the fair treatment of all citizens in England.