THE FIRST ever GWCT Welsh Game Fair is to be held at a historic country estate in North West Wales later this year.
The team behind The Game Fair and The Scottish Game Fair, hugely popular annual gatherings for people passionate about the countryside and country pursuits, has announced that the new, three-day event will be held at Vaynol Estate, near Bangor from September 9-11.
The event is being organised in partnership with leading conservation charity The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT).
The GWCT Welsh Game Fair will raise money to support the GWCT’s charitable work and give a welcome boost to the region, with tourism and visitors contributing to the local economy.
The event will feature fishing, clay shooting, gundogs, game cookery, falconry, horses and hounds, as well as rural crafts, food and drink.
Visitors can look forward to a wide range of attractions, displays, live debates, shopping at hundreds of trade stands and family entertainment, all with a countryside theme.
The landscape of the Vaynol Estate, which includes a beautiful, large lake in front of the main mansion for casting displays, is perfect for this celebration of all things rural.
The new event marks the return of large scale business to The Vaynol Estate, which famously hosted Radio 1’s Big Weekend over 10 years ago, attracting 40,000 music fans.
The Clay Shooting Line and Gunmakers Row, both extremely popular elements of the Scottish and National Game Fairs, will feature alongside a wealth of Welsh produce.
The event is set to be a fantastic shop window for the Welsh countryside and will promote the unique culture and heritage of Wales. It will also bring together representatives from a range of conservation, farming, field sports and fishing bodies for debates on Welsh rural issues.
The aim is to foster greater communication and cooperation between sectors and promote the benefits of country pursuits and conservation to a wider audience.
James Gower, managing director of The National Game Fair Ltd, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be able to share the news that we are planning the first ever Welsh Game Fair in partnership The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust.
“Wales has some of the UK’s most beautiful countryside which is home to people passionate about the landscape and the country pursuits taking place within it. It’s high time we shone a spotlight on the Welsh countryside and this event is the perfect way to do it.
“I look forward to sharing more details with exhibitors and visitors alike in time but can confirm that all the elements which contribute to the success of our established game fairs will be in place at the Vaynol Estate come September!”
GWCT director for Wales Sue Evans added: “This is a truly exciting announcement for the Welsh countryside and the people who live and work in it. The GWCT Welsh Game Fair will help us bring together people from all the different sectors which care for and work in rural Wales and engage more people with the benefits of game management for conservation.
“I can’t wait to see visitors exploring the beautiful Faenol Estate with Snowdonia as a backdrop for showcasing the best of what the countryside has to offer.”
Planning for the GWCT Welsh Game Fair is well underway, and more details will be announced in the coming weeks and months. The Game Fair team has appointed Gethin Jones, a keen country sports enthusiast living in North Wales, as country manager.
Gethin is also a Welsh speaker and is looking forward to making this into a truly Welsh event, encompassing Wales’ rich culture and heritage as an integral part of the fair.
