Island Life Magazine Ltd April/May 2012 | Page 103

COUNTRY LIFE Show going back to roots With a slight name change ‘The Royal Isle of Wight County Show’ is going back to its roots to promote the rural economy on Saturday, June 16. ‘Queen of Aga cookery’ and all round champion of countryside pursuits, Amy Willcock, is heading up the new Show Committee; Lord-Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, Major General Martin White has been appointed president of the RIWAS (Royal Isle of Wight Agricultural Society) with Chairman of the Isle of Wight NHS Primary Care Trust, Danny Fisher appointed chairman. David Biles is back with the skilful carriage driving championship qualifiers that always make a fine show in the main ring and Ventnorian Jonny Fitzgerald Bond has very kindly agreed to be ringmaster on the day. A new ‘Village Green’ area will have original Victorian attractions along with steam engines, antique tractors, a traditional country pub, a thatched cottage tea shop, and a ‘show farm’. Along with the main ring there will be three equestrian rings, a large Horticultural marquee, loads of livestock, an Environmental and Wildlife corner and a bigger and better Woodland area. For more details see www.riwas.org.uk Back to nature I am beginning to believe that winter has gone, and all we have had to show for it was a week of cold weather and a couple of wet days. Not that I’m complaining, but if I was granted a ‘weather wish’, it would be for a nice long cold spell followed by some heavy rain - does that count as one wish? There is still a lot of hedge and tree planting to complete and we extend our bare-rooted planting season by using a root dip, looking a bit like wall paper paste, that coats the roots helping them A cou ntry ma n's dia ry to retain moisture and encourage good growth. Potted trees and shrubs get a slightly different treatment with our own mix of water retentive granules, slow release fertiliser and mycorrhiza granules. Although adding to the cost the success rates are far superior. On one particular farm we have been clearing away dead elms that have fallen across the fences, coppicing what is left of the hedge, helping to clean out ditches and then gapping up the hedgerow with new whips. Traditionally the management of these hedges would have been done yearly by farm hands, but with farms now being mechanised there isn’t the spare labour. It is a long term plan, and although initially looking a bit bare afterwards, the coppiced stools grow quickly and before long the hedge will be re-instated and acting as a wildlife corridor, larder and home, all in one. www.visitislandlife.com 103