New attractions and old-time favourites

What better way to round off the summer than with a visit to the Dorset County Show?

This year the show has a host of new and exciting attractions happening alongside the traditional spectacle of champion livestock from all over the country.

The world’s largest monster trucks are crushing their way into the show. Stand by for an impressive 7.5 tonnes of Big Pete and his sidekick the Grim Reaper as they create mechanical mayhem. You will hear them before you see them!

A new introduction sees a Food and Drink Area devoted to the best of British beverages and food with a particular focus on the array of delicious Dorset producers. This pop-up foodie paradise is the place to try, buy and enjoy local, take in the atmosphere and enjoy onsite or take home to use in the kitchen. Here you will also find a music tent plus a massive new Food Hall, Dorset’s biggest larder! See ponies put through their paces in the thrilling Mounted Pony Club Games and Shetland Pony Racing – think sports day on pocket rocket ponies!

You won’t want to miss the amazing dancing sheep. Meet Nobby the Norfolk Horn and his twinkle-hoofed mates at the hilarious Sheep Show which gives a fun insight into nine different breeds.

The show welcomes the county’s famous Dorset Axemen, in the new Axemen Ring. who will demonstrate the physical power of the forester, woodman and timber cutter. Their amazing display features speed, accuracy chopping and crosscut sawing with razor sharp axes and saws.

Tradition comes alive as the colourful vintage tractor parade trundles through the main ring while the Steam Engine Section offers all the sights and smells of the past. Your little ones will love a free ride on pedal tractors in the Fabulous Food & Farming Area. This handson area traces the journey of food from field to fork with fun and interactive elements. Rural pursuits are at the heart of this show which has been showing Dorset agriculture, country and rural life for well over 100 years. Visitors can enjoy close-up milking demos, sheep shearing displays, gun dogs in action, falconry and ferret racing in the Countryside Ring. There are bees, rabbits, poultry, heavy horses, show-jumping, scurry racing and carriage driving and the cutest creatures of the show – cavies.

Green-fingered fans can lose themselves in the beauty of the floral and horticultural marquees and enjoy the stunning show gardens.

Advance tickets are £19 for adults until August 26, before increasing to £21 before £23 on the days: children up to 16 go free. And, if you want to make it a two-day treat, camping on-site is available. Book via the new and easy-to-use website at dorsetcountyshow.co.uk.