Suffolk Show 2018: Today’s the day – it’s show time!

John Goodwin with his shire horse Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

Food, farming, flowers, friends and family – they were the focus at Trinity Park yesterday as hundreds of people from across the county and beyond put the final touches to their trade stands, and titivated their livestock for judging.

At the flower tent, trees, flowers, outdoor furniture, sculpture, a willow fence and a lot of hard work were being put into a garden next to the lifestyle pavilion.

As we saw at last week’s Chelsea Flower Show, lupin and foxglove are very much in vogue and this is reflected in the garden created by Roger Gladwell (landscape and garden design) working with Barsham Trees, Glasswells, and local artists.

It will be an oasis of colour and calm on a busy first day.

Erika Wilkin in the WI tent Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

Here and all around the flower tent, gardeners will find inspiration.

At the WI tent, Erika Wilkin, the Women’s Institute Suffolk Show chairman and WI Suffolk East chairman, is one of the team putting together this year’s displays of craftwork and floral design which explore the circle of life through birth, childhood, marriage, family and ageing.

Meanwhile the adjacent café, though empty on Tuesday, has the promise of home-made sausage rolls, scones and more.

In one of the horse rings shire horse Dizzy B was being put through his paces by John Goodwin.

Exhibitors bring in their flowers Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

The draught horse will be one of four pulling a dray in the grand ring

“We’ve been champion turn-out for the last five or six years,” said Mr Goodwin.

Also looking forward to a good show is eight-year-old Lucy May who will be showing seven-month old Little Toby, a shortlegged dexter, one of Lakenheath farmer Kelvin James’ herd.

It’s dedicated work getting the animals looking their best and, in the cattle “beauty salon”, Louise Lawrence of Wigboro Holsteins and Wigboro Ayrshires, of St Osyth, is shaving Ayrshire Peggy’s tail before the dairy cow, who has had two calves, gets her final blow-dried top-line.

Exhibitors get ready for the opening Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

Now at the Trinity Park show ground, the chairs and tables have been set, the Apache helicopter is being flown, paintings have been hung and the food tents are prepped.

Today it will be on with the hats, and on with the show.

Adine Schrankel and Rachel Summers at Trinity Park Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

Adine Schrankel and Rachel Summers at the Trinity Park Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

The Apache helicopter will be at the show. From left: Air Trooper Terry, Sgt Spencer, Air Trooper Stalley, Air Trooper Jordan Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

Major James Milnes with the Apache helicopter from Wattisham Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

Handlers take their cows into the shed Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

Sheep arrive ready for the show Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)