By Gordon Davidson

WITH hopes of a normal 'in person' Royal Highland Show stymied by the country's slow emergence from Covid restrictions, its organiser, the Royal and Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, is now preparing for a 'behind closed doors' version that will be broadcast to a – hopefully – enthusiastic worldwide audience via the internet between 14th and 20th June.

This week the RHASS announced that its long-term partner, Royal Bank of Scotland, will be backing this Royal Highland 'Showcase', live-streamed from the Ingliston showground outside Edinburgh, just as it has backed every normal show since 1981.

With the bank's backing, alongside significant funding from the Scottish Government, the live event's livestock judging, exhibitions and show jumping will be enhanced with hundreds of hours of ‘on demand’ programming accessible from a dedicated Showcase website, including chef demonstrations, farrier exhibitions, forestry skills, educational programming from the Royal Highland Education Trust and much more.

All content will be free to view and can be accessed via www.royalhighlandshow.org from Monday 14th June. 

With more than 1,100 livestock exhibitors and close to 2,000 equestrian exhibitors confirmed to be taking part, the hope is that this ambitious project will see Scottish agriculture take centre stage and mark the return to events following the crippling pandemic.

It is also expected that the RHASS will learn mightily from the live-streaming aspect, which may then be incorporated in future Royal Highland Shows to reach beyond the usual in-person throng.

For in-depth news and views on Scottish agriculture, see this Friday’s issue of The Scottish Farmer or visit www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk