Royal Three Counties Show -Gloucestershire Old Spots Trial Starring Henson Pig

Marketing Gloucester are proud to announce The Royal Three Counties Show as the headline sponsor of an exciting new sculpture trail for Gloucestershire. The Royal Three Counties Show Gloucestershire Old Spots Trail Starring ‘Henson Pig’ will be taking place from June to August 2017. Expanding on the success of last year’s Scrumpty Trail, there will be twenty sculptures in the city with an additional twenty around the county.

The partnership with the Royal Three Counties Show coincides with Gloucestershire assuming hosting duties for the event on 16 -18 June 2017 at the Showground in Malvern. In 2017, the long-established agricultural event will be celebrating all that is great about Gloucestershire.The Royal Three Counties Show Gloucestershire Old Spots Trail Starring ‘Henson Pig’ will also highlight to other ancient livestock breeds synonymous with Gloucestershire, the Gloucester Cattle and the Cotswold Lion sheep.

The Gloucestershire Old Spots was the first pig to ever be given pedigree status. Known as the ‘orchard pig’, the Gloucestershire Old Spots originates from the Severn Valley pig’ where they foraged on wind fallen apples and whey – bi-products of two of the county’s most famous exports, cider and cheese. It was championed along with other rare breeds, by Joe Henson MBE, at Cotswold Farm Park when it opened in 1971. His son, Adam, took over the running of the park in 1999 and is a presenter on the BBC’s Countryfile. It is in Joe and Adam’s honour that the pig is named ‘Henson’.

The partnership between the Royal Three Counties Show and Marketing Gloucester will encourage a deeper understanding of Gloucestershire’s rural heritage, promoting cultural tourism around the county, whilst providing opportunities for the two organisations to raise money for their preferred charities.