News
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visit the Great Yorkshire Show, Harrogate
13th July 2011
The Prince of Wales today announced nearly £200,000 of new grants from The Prince's Countryside Fund to help boost British farmers and rural communities.
The announcement was made as he visited the Great Yorkshire Show in
Harrogate with The Duchess of Cornwall.
The grants will support a diverse range of projects, from empowering young people in isolated areas of north and west Devon, to providing business support to rural women.
Launched last year, The Prince's Countryside Fund has three goals; to improve the sustainability of British farming and rural communities, targeting the areas of greatest need; to reconnect consumers with countryside issues; and to support farming and rural crisis charities through a dedicated emergency funding stream.
The Prince and The Duchess were warmly received as they toured the exhibitors and enjoyed sampling some of the food on offer in the food hall.
His Royal Highness, who is Patron of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society which organises the event, and The Duchess chatted with the public and were applauded on several occasions during a whistle-stop tour.
Their Royal Highnesses last visited the show in 2006.
As The Prince toured the food hall, he sampled a piece of Wensleydale cheese as he enjoyed a gastronomic tour at the show.
Jayne Hickinbotham, chief steward at the cheese and dairy section, said The Prince was particularly knowledgeable on his products.
Asked if he liked the Wensleydale, she added: "He said it was very delicious. The Wensleydale is the home cheese here and he made a beeline for it. Both asked to sample it."
His Royal Highness also sampled a piece of game pie and seemed to take an interest in a stall selling exotic spices.
The Great Yorkshire Show is held annually over three days in July.
More than 130,000 visitors are expected to attend the 2011 event, which will be the 153rd show.