On Sunday 26 May Bishop Burton College opens it campus for visitors to explore. From rural crafts to rugby, falconry to stunt performers and not forgetting our prestigious British Eventing Horse Trials, there are activities for the whole family to enjoy.
The College will be showcasing its recently completed ottery, with new recruits, otters Bea and Phil, able to meet the public for the first time, along with the ever popular meerkats, llamas, snakes, wallabies and more. Visitors are invited to bring their dogs to enter a fun dog show and the children’s zone will be running games and activities all day.
The event is run entirely by students and staff, which creates a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere and last year it attracted over 5,000 visitors. College Principal, Jeanette Dawson OBE is looking forward to welcoming the crowds this year. She said,
“Every year I can’t help but be moved by the mixture of different people we get. There are the farmers, some of them probably former students, but just as many people who have no connection with agriculture whatsoever. It really is a day, as the name implies, when town meets country.”
Last year was the first time Town & Country Day was planned to coincide with the British Eventing Horse Trials and Mrs Dawson is pleased to repeat the successful formula, saying,
“I love the idea that through having both events on the same weekend we got people who’d never watched an equestrian competition before finding themselves really enjoying the horse trials.”
“In a similar vein, there were definitely people who’d come specifically for the horse trials who couldn’t resist a look over at what was going on at Town & Country Day. It’s great to see crossover between the events.”