Mark Read, of P & M Read in Upwey, won the dahlia championship in last year’s horticulture section but is not confident his winning streak will continue because of a shortage of farmyard manure to feed the soil in his back garden.

Mr Read, who used to put 14 tonnes of manure on his annual dahlia crop, said: ‘Dahlias originate from Mexico and are grown during the rainy season, so they need a lot of water.

‘Manure is the best thing for holding the water in the soil but the problem I have got at the moment is I can’t get hold of any that has not got weedkiller in it.

‘So many farmers are using the broad leaf weedkiller in their fields, which does not kill grass, only things with a broad leaf - like dahlias. It goes straight through the cow and comes out in the manure, and kills off the dahlias.

‘It has been so difficult to find farmers who can guarantee that their grass is not contaminated by this. I have managed to get some from a sheep farmer who let me have 20 bagfuls but that’s nowhere near enough.

‘I don’t dare to infect my garden with this weedkiller – it would take three years to get rid of all traces of it. So I end up using so much more water. I give each plant more than a gallon every day. And because my garden has not had manure for three years the soil has got very dusty and loose.’

Mr Read says a lot of care goes into growing a championship dahlia. They are all grown from cuttings taken off his best plants from the previous year. He said: ‘I root them myself usually in April or May and plant them in my back garden in Upwey in June.’

Show Secretary Sam Mackenzie-Green said: ‘At the Dorset County Show we have got an excellent network of hundreds of farmers but this is the first time we have ever had to broadcast a plea like this to them!

‘Our members all like to help each other out, that is what makes the Dorset County Show such a great success year after year. We would love to be able to help Mr Read so perhaps there is somebody out there who needs to clear their field of horse or pony poo, and they could come to some happy arrangement with him.

‘Every year I am always amazed at how seriously people take their preparations for the Show. I hope Mr Read will be able to put on a great display, because the floral tent is one of the things that hundreds of visitors always make a beeline for.’

Mr Read also grows vegetables such as leeks and onions, runner beans, cauliflower and celery, as well as pot plants, to enter in the Dorset County show classes.

If you have some manure you can donate please contact P & M Read on 01305 812932.

PHOTO CAPTION:

Mark Read with his champion dahlias.

NOTES TO EDITORS

For more information, or to arrange interviews, please contact Emily Pykett at Watershed PR on 01308-420785, email emily@watershedpr.co.uk

The Dorset County Show is one of the premier county shows, celebrating the spirit of the county and the best rural traditions of Dorset since 1841.

When: 4-5 September 2010.

Where: The Showground is just one mile outside Dorchester just off the A35.

How: By car, parking is free at the Showground. If you’re coming by public transport, take the train or bus to Dorchester and pick up a First Buses service, which will be running frequently from Dorchester to the Showground from 07.35am to 17.08pm.

Tickets: An advance adult ticket is £10. Entrance is free for children aged 16 and under. You can buy tickets online at www.dorsetcountyshow.co.uk or from Tourist Information Centres in Dorchester, Weymouth, Bridport, Lyme Regis, Wimborne, Blandford, Wareham and Swanage.

ENDS

A cactus enthusiast is hoping his plants will bring home the silverware from the Dorset County Show for the 17th year in a row. 

David Ennals, 56, of Toller Porcorum, has been exhibiting cacti and flowers at the event and accumulating accolades since 1994, when he first won the top prize in the cactus class. 

For the past two years, his incredible cactus displays - which are made up of 80 or 90 cacti - have also won the Townsend Perpetual Cup, in the open horticultural display section. 

Mr Ennals, who is chairman of the parish council for Toller Porcorum, has been interested in cacti since the age of 12 when his mother brought one home for him. 

He said: ‘I grow the plants, and my wife Jane does the arranging - it’s a bit like flower arranging, only spikier! 

‘I won first prize for exhibiting cacti in the cactus class in 1994, when the Show was held at Came Down and believe I have won the class every year since then. 

‘I have always had a passion for cacti but got more seriously into it when the children left home.’ 

Mr Ennals said it can take five years to grow a cactus to Show standard. His plants live in a greenhouse and in his conservatory and grow at different rates - he has tended some of them for 15 or 20 years. Some of the cacti grow to six feet tall. 

Mr Ennals enjoys seeing the cacti flower and even eats the fruits of some of them. 

He said: ‘It is a way of life. My fascination stems from growing the cacti from seeds and seeing them grow into mature plants, with the shape of the spines and the arrangement of its flowers. 

‘You can eat the cactus fruits – I nibble away at them, but am careful not to eat the seeds, which can be sown into more plants. 

‘I only do it for the love of the hobby. It is not about winning prizes, but it does give you a lift to see the reaction of people when they see the display, and at least over the past two years, I hope I have encouraged others to grow some of these fascinating plants. 

‘This year I will be coming back to see if I can defend my trophy – it would be nice to see if I can do it 17 years in a row. 

‘But I’m not sure how I would rate my chances, it’s been a bitterly cold winter and cacti don’t like the frost.’ 

Mr Ennals is a member of the British Cactus & Succulent Society and also on the Dorset County Show’s horticulture committee. 

The closing date for members of the public who wish to enter any of the horticulture classes at the Dorset County Show is Tuesday 24 August. 

Cash prizes and trophies are on offer for the winners. As well as cacti, the flower classes also include pot plants, hanging baskets, dahlias, roses, and chrysanthemums. Competitions in the vegetables and fruit classes include the longest runner bean, the heaviest onion, heaviest pumpkin and the heaviest marrow.

Children can have lots of fun over the summer holidays practising for the junior classes such as fashioning an animal or alien out of vegetable or plant materials, decorating flower pots, making edible necklaces or growing the biggest sunflower head. 

Junior classes cater for three age ranges: seven years and under, eight to 12 years and 12 to 16 years. You can view a full list of classes and fill out an online entry form by clicking on the schedule at http://www.dorsetcountyshow.co.uk/pdf/Homecraft/index.html 

Show Secretary Sam Mackenzie-Green said: ‘There really is something for people of all ages to see and do at the Dorset County Show. 

‘Come and have a look at some of the fabulous floral displays or marvel at the enormous fruit and vegetables. 

‘Perhaps this year’s Dorset County Show will get people inspired to roll up their sleeves and get cracking in their own veg plot or back gardens next year!’ 

NOTES FOR EDITORS

For more information, or to arrange interviews, please contact Emily Pykett or Alicen Dines at Watershed PR on 01308-420785, email alicen@watershedpr.co.uk or emily@watershedpr.co.uk. 

The Dorset County Show is one of the premier county shows, celebrating the spirit of the county and the best rural traditions of Dorset since 1841.  

When: 4-5 September 2010. 

Where: The Showground is just one mile outside Dorchester just off the A35. 

How: By car, parking is free at the Showground. If you’re coming by public transport, take the train or bus to Dorchester and pick up a First Buses service, which will be running frequently from Dorchester to the Showground from 07.35am to 17.08pm. 

Tickets: An advance adult ticket is £10. Entrance is free for children aged 16 and under. You can buy tickets online at www.dorsetcountyshow.co.uk or from Tourist Information Centres in Dorchester, Weymouth, Bridport, Lyme Regis, Wimborne, Blandford, Wareham and Swanage.

PICTURE CAPTION (L-R) 

David Ennals receiving The Townsend Perpetual Cup from horticultural chairman Robin Pitcher for displaying cacti in the ‘Open Horticultural Display’ at the Dorset County Show 2009. 

ENDS

As part of the Show’s Dog Stars 2010 theme, Dorchester’s Southfield Veterinary Centre will be offering the Show’s first Dog Breath Clinics on September 4-5, to show owners how to freshen up their dogs’ pongy breath.

Meat-flavoured toothpaste and dental chews are just two of the weapons available to pet owners and Southfields vet, Verity Griffiths warns that a hound’s halitosis should always be tackled. ‘Bad breath in a dog is not just nasty, it’s a warning sign of dental disease. The associated bacteria is absorbed into the blood stream and carried to other organs, which is why heart problems in older dogs are frequently due to poor oral health. Liver and kidney problems can also occur.

‘You can help by feeding your dog dry food, giving suitable chew toys and brushing teeth but never use human toothpaste as it is far too harsh.’

Southfields can offer dog owners micro-chipping at a Show special price of £15, along with lifelong registration on the National Petlog. Verity said: ‘We also have free veterinary dental food samples from Royal Canin and vouchers to redeem against future purchases such as wormers and identichips.’

Meanwhile, owners of tubby Terriers or lardy Labradors can give their dog a dietary wake-up call at the free dog Weight Check Point at the Parkhouse Pet Supplies stand.

Pet food manufacturers Royal Canin, in partnership with Parkhouse Pet Supplies, will have animal nutrition experts on hand to weigh dogs on specialist scales and give their owners advice on how to stop piling on the canine calories. 

Trevor Beaton from Royal Canin said: ‘About one-third of dogs in this country are considered to be overweight with about 10 per cent obese.

‘It is generally thought that when a dog is 15 per cent of its bodyweight overweight, it is considered clinically obese and may be in need of veterinary consultation, a special diet and monitoring programme.

‘It’s not always just about reducing the amount and type of food a dog eats. We will be offering tips and ideas to increase the amount of exercise owners give their dogs to help them live a healthier lifestyle.’

 Other Dog Stars events at the Dorset County Show

• The ultimate in dog communication, Wolfman Shaun Ellis, is an ex-Commando who lives with a pack of wolves in North Devon. Mr Ellis has starred in several British and American TV programmes, and he recently appeared in a series with Martin Clunes, to explain to him how dogs live in packs. 
• The Exeter X-Factor Flyball Team are set to become stars of the Show. Teams of four dogs will be wowing the crowds by relay racing over hurdles and catching tennis balls. 
• Dorset Dogs Got Talent finals. Following the success of Chandi, the dancing dog who reached the finals of Britain’s Got Talent, Show organisers have launched their own Dog’s Got Talent contest for owners to upload pet antics to the Dorset Echo website. 
• The hound parade, featuring beagles and foxhounds from the Cattistock and South Dorset Hunts, and local kennels, followed by the famous ‘hug a hound’ opportunity for children to enter the ring and meet the dogs. 
• Expert search and retrieval of items hidden in the lake by highly trained English Springer Spaniels.  
• Terrier racing, featuring teams of six dogs chasing a toy rabbit round a course. 
• Dog agility demonstrations, including a chance for visitors to test their dog’s talent through the course of tunnels and jumps.

Show secretary Sam Mackenzie-Green, the proud owner of Wellington, a black Labrador, said: ‘Dorset is a dog-loving county but there are still a lot of places you can’t take your pet on a family day out.

‘At the Dorset County Show, family dogs get free entry with adult tickets and this year there will be a cavalcade of races, displays and parades to promote and encourage all aspects of dog ownership.’

Dog lovers can browse a host of stands promoting dog health, pet food supplies and animal charities.

They can meet greyhounds and find out about re-homing abused and abandoned dogs at stands run by Greyhound Rescue West of England and the Retired Greyhound Trust. The Margaret Green Animal Rescue charity will also be running a fundraising stall.

Dog beds, coats or mattresses are available to buy from stalls run by Blandford-based www.muddypaws.co.uk. Souvenirs of a great weekend can be picked up from www.paw-things.com and treats galore are in store at the Oscar Pet Foods stand.

Pet portraits can be commissioned from two Dorset-based artists; Dawn Warr, of Bradford Abbas, or Christine Groves, of Wimborne.

Now in its 169th year, the Show in Dorchester has lined up a series of memorable experiences to go alongside the traditional spectacles of rural life and a tempting range of displays and trade stands.

Last year’s show saw a record 55,000 visitors, 6,000 animals and 400 stands.

This year’s crowd-pleasers include the Diggerland JCB Stunt Team, known as the Dancing Diggers. Giant JCBs do daring stunts, dance in formation and make people laugh.

Show secretary Sam Mackenzie-Green said: ‘Lots of people have said we must have them. The way they all move together, you can’t take your eyes off them.

‘It’s like having a set of performing dinosaurs.

‘Children particularly enjoy seeing them.’

More showmanship will come from Wolfman Shaun Ellis, an ex-Commando who lives with a pack of wolves in North Devon. Mr Ellis has starred in several British and American TV programmes, and he recently appeared in a series with one of Dorset’s most famous residents, Martin Clunes, to explain to him how dogs live in packs.

Sam said: ‘The Wolfman has raised three wolf cubs. He was their pack leader. He taught them how to eat meat. He taught them how to howl. He taught them how to behave in the wild.

‘He’s got something about him, he’s a character.’

Also stalking round by popular demand will be Titan the Robot, the giant 55-stone android who thrilled showgoers last year and has since grooved on stage in Europe and America with US singing star Rihanna.

Sam said: ‘I heard from a couple of teachers last year that all the children were talking about when they went back to school was Titan the Robot. He was enormously popular.

‘I remember standing next to our home crafts chairman when Titan appeared and she was gobsmacked. She’d never seen anything like it.’

Other attractions this year include the Exeter X Factors Flyball relay-racing dogs, exciting mounted games at breakneck speed on ponies, and a new small farmers’ market, with local food producers who have not traded at the Dorset County Show before.

The show also has a new website now online at http://www.dorsetcountyshow.co.uk

You can also follow on Twitter @DorsetSec or Like on Facebook at Dorset County Show.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Hi-res images of the Dancing Diggers and the Wolfman are available to download from the Watershed newsroom. All images of Wolfman Shaun Ellis are copyright Roger Cooke, and must be credited to him. They may only be used free of charge in connection with stories about Mr Ellis's appearance at the 2010 Dorset County Show.

http://www.watershedpr.co.uk/newsroom_client.php?cid=36&Section=images

NOTES TO EDITORS

For more information, or to arrange interviews, please contact Alicen Dines at Watershed PR on 01308-420785, email alicen@watershedpr.co.uk

The Dorset County Show is one of the premier county shows, celebrating the spirit of the county and the best rural traditions of Dorset since 1841.

When: 4-5 September 2010.

Where: The showground is just one mile outside Dorchester just off the A35.

How: By car, parking is free at the showground. If you’re coming by public transport, take the train or bus to Dorchester and pick up a First Buses service, which will be running frequently from Dorchester to the Showground from 07.35am to 17.08pm.

Tickets: An advance adult ticket is £10. Entrance is free for children aged 16 and under. You can buy tickets online at www.dorsetcountyshow.co.uk or from Tourist Information Centres in Dorchester, Weymouth, Bridport, Lyme Regis, Wimborne, Blandford, Wareham and Swanage.

ENDS