New Agricultural Building will be Jewel of Annual Show Thanks to Greenham Common Trust

A new agricultural building has become a reality for the Newbury and District Agricultural Society (NADAS) thanks to a grant worth up to £187,500 from Greenham Common Trust.

The society is famous for the Royal County of Berkshire Show held each year at the Newbury Showground.

Throughout the year, the charity also helps promote agriculture, horticulture and country life, and runs a programme of activities for its members and a range of educational projects in schools.

There has been a growing need for a new agricultural building to support the existing facilities, and for showing cattle at the annual show. This new facility will be multi-functional and used to support educational programmes on site, as well as being available for hire.

The building will be ready during mid-May and the International Antiques and Collectors Fairs (IACF) will be the first organisation to hire the venue.

The new structure has been partly funded by the society’s own reserves, and a commercial loan, as well as support from Greenham Common Trust. The Trust has offered up to £187,500 in matched funding through its findmeagrant.org funding portal. So far, NADAS has raised £80,000.

Daren Bowyer, chief executive of NADAS, said: “Greenham Common Trust’s support has helped ensure this building project was realistic for us. We still have a fair way to go to reach our target but without this amazing support from the Trust, it would almost certainly have been an impossible amount to raise.

“As a result, those who exhibit some of the country’s best livestock will benefit from fabulous new facilities at the Royal County of Berkshire Show from this year onwards.

Chris Boulton, Chief Executive of Greenham Common Trust said: “We are very pleased to be a strong contributory factor in making such an important vision become a reality. The area in which we live has a rich agricultural heritage. Now, young students and teachers visiting the showground will have a dedicated venue, no matter what the weather, to continue their learning.”

This year’s show is on 17 and 18 September at Newbury Showground.