COMPETITION WINNER AND EXHIBITORS ANNOUNCED AHEAD OF LINCOLNSHIRE SHOW 16 Jun

With the 138th Lincolnshire Show just around the corner, the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society (LAS) has announced some of the exciting exhibitors who will be attending this year’s event, as well as the winner of the annual ‘Grow with the Show’ competition.

Open to new businesses starting their journey, each year the Grow with the Show competition is a popular event for Lincolnshire start-ups, with winners decided by a panel of judges during a ‘Dragons’ Den’ style pitch.

This year’s winner is Nurture Nature Forest School CIC who will benefit from a prime spot at the showground during the two-day event, which takes place this year on 21 and 22 June.

They’ll also receive a £250 cash prize, expert mentoring from business incubation centre Sparkhouse, a complimentary marketing session from Optima Graphic Design Ltd and point of sale material worth £300 from Ruddocks.

Founded in January 2022 by Jennifer Wakefield, Nurture Nature Forest School CIC is based in North East Lincolnshire, covering North Lincolnshire and East Lindsey. It strives to inspire a deep and meaningful connection to nature through the forest school process of play.

Its sessions are for families, home-educated groups, nurseries and schools, to facilitate knowledge gathering, as well as help children to develop socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually.

Jennifer Wakefield, Founder at Nurture Nature Forest School CIC, said: “I started the business in January 2022 as there was a clear need for activities involving nature for the communities and educational institutions. We quickly became very busy and started to hone-in on what communities wanted, while starting the process of applying for funding, to ensure we could make our dream a reality.”

At the Lincolnshire Show, Jennifer will be running a series of forest school activities throughout both days. Nurture Nature Forest School CIC will have a range of designated zones where children can learn about den building, different knots, tool use, and nature crafts.

Jennifer added: "Winning Grow with the Show 2023 for the Lincolnshire Show means more than I can say. To be recognised in this way so early into my business journey is just so humbling and I just want to thank everyone on the panel for this opportunity. Being at the Show allows us to showcase what we do to the wider Lincolnshire area which is great and where we want to be.”

Sarah Duxbury, trade and business development manager at Lincolnshire Showground, said: “Each year our Grow with the Show competition serves as a fantastic opportunity for us to support an up-and-coming Lincolnshire business, and Nurture Nature Forest School CIC were certainly very worthy winners. The company does so much incredible work educating the local community and young children across the county about the power of nature, a message which is very fitting for this year’s show which will be welcoming a newly enhanced horticultural zone.

“During the two-day event, Jennifer and the rest of the Nurture Nature Forest School CIC team will have a prime spot at CS-49a, opposite the ‘Young Farmers Tug of War Ring, where visitors will be able to learn a little bit more about this fantastic company.”

At this year’s Lincolnshire Show, a total of nearly 500 exhibitors will be joining Jennifer and showcasing the best food, lifestyle and crafts the region has to offer.

One such exhibitor is Chris's Fork Emporium, which was founded in 2015 and is run by Chris and Sarah Amison. The duo upcycle old and vintage cutlery into beautiful jewellery, including bracelets and earrings, as well as key rings, hooks and hangers.

Chris said: “In 2012, Sarah and I stopped at a garage sale where we gathered old spoons and forks and decided to transform them into beautiful bespoke jewellery. From this, Chris’s Fork Emporium was born, and we’ve loved being able to turn antique and unwanted cutlery into one-of-a-kind pieces that are a cut above the rest ever since.

“This year at the Lincolnshire Show and we’re really excited to showcase our jewellery, key rings, hooks and hangers to visitors of the Show. We look forward to seeing the reaction on visitors’ faces when they realise what these beautiful pieces once were.”

Other exhibitors attending this year’s Lincolnshire Show, include DE Glass Designs, who make handcrafted and kiln-fired glass decorations and jewellery in Lincolnshire, Wax Gems Soy Candles, who create soy-based candles that are vegan-friendly and cruelty-free, and Hawkmoon Crafts, who make one-off felt pieces including decorations, cards.

For visitors looking for a tasty treat, look no further than Old Elephant Fudge, Blueberry Hill Preserves and Blyton Ice Cream Ltd who will be on-hand for those with a sweet tooth.

There will also be a number of catering companies, including The Duck Truck, Oh La La Fries and Gelston Lamb.

Sarah added: “Each year, we work hard to ensure we have fantastic range of exhibitors who’ll offer something to suit all tastes, and this year is no exception. We always love to see exhibitors returning year after year as well as brand-new exhibitors, and this year the Show will see many new stalls.

“From brilliant local produce to homeware, plants and sweet treats, visitors to this year’s Show will find lots of special treats over the course of the two days. It’s set to be a great Show and we can’t wait to welcome visitors and exhibitors once again.”

The Lincolnshire Show is organised by the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, a registered charity that aims to educate people about food, farming and the countryside.

For more information about this year’s show, exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities, or to buy tickets, visit www.lincolnshireshow.co.uk