DESPITE on-going difficulties facing the industry, livestock entries are up by a pleasing 500 on last year for the Three Counties Countryside Show at Malvern from June 18 to 24.

The show society's determined effort to retain the traditional food and farming focus of the long-running standing farm extravaganza has also drawn the return of big-name trade stands which, according to the society, are sure signs that the event is well on the road to recovery.

Last year the show attracted more than 100,000 visitors and officials are hoping to at least match the figure this time.

Society press officer Sharon Gilbert said: "Our June show has really gone through the mill in recent years and like all agricultural events, entry levels and content have been dictated to a great extent by what's been happening in farming and other land-based industries."

The show was badly hit by the dairy depression in 2000 and by foot and mouth the following year.

Sharon said the society had endeavoured to retain the rural heart of the show by concentrating on countryside issues and activities when livestock were absent and rebuilding the core now that the animals were back.

"This year there are more than 2,000 livestock entries and around 1,900 horse entries which bodes well for the future and we are looking forward to a successful show."

The bulk of the livestock competitions will be over the Friday and Saturday with Sunday designated to a Rare Breeds day and featuring an Alpaca Show.

On Sunday, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust is holding its annual meeting at the show.

The cattle judging rings have been enlarged and in line with Health and Safety Executive directives, a new layout will give exhibitors access from a central aisle.

The equestrian area has benefited from a regeneration programme that includes bigger rings. The section, noted for its top-bracket entries, has qualifiers for the Royal International Horse Show and the Horse of the Year Show, and two new classes for this year - working cobs and amateur working hunters.

Also new is a dedicated technical area for smallholders, staged in connection with Holme Lacy College, Hereford.

Other firsts include the introduction of cider and perry classes, and a visit from a group of Maasai warriors who will have a small village on site where they will be working on bread-making and batik.

The warriors, fanatical about agriculture, will also be giving three daily performances in the main arena for the duration of the show.