Ploughing match comes to town

THE annual Cheshire Ploughing and Hedgelaying Match is to be held near Warrington this year -and could attract up to 5,000 people.
It will be held at Tony Cookson’s Agden Brook Farm, in Lymm Road, Little Bollington, Lymm, on September 30 and is expected have about 100 tractors and 10 sets of horse ploughmen and women taking part in the ploughing match, as well as a hedge laying competition.
The Cheshire Ploughing Match has been going for around 100 years and is one of the largest in the country.
Ploughing matches started about 150 years ago when it would have all been horse ploughing. But although there are still many good ploughmen – and women! – around they are only seen at matches and competitions as the tractor has taken over.
Hedgelaying is a craft that has been going on for centuries, the object being to make a stock proof fence.
The stock is cut about half way through and bent over to make the hedge thicker so livestock cannot go through it. This is very hard work – but the finished result is a hedge that is a work of art.
Along with the competition there will be about 100 exhibitors on the showground which are mainly based in agriculture.
A spokesman said: “It is an almost unique opportunity to see how agriculture has developed over the last 150 years from the horse plough to the large modern day machines which are used today. If anyone wishes to see farming as it really is today then it is well worthwhile having a visit.”
There will be many refreshment stalls and a bar as well as all the usual conveniences.