The organising committee of the annual Isle of Wight Gilten Market have decided to cancel this year’s event in light of the spread of Blue Tongue disease.
The market – which is the Island’s historic Christmas Fatstock Show where the High Sherrif gilds the head of the champion animal with gold paint – was unusually going to have been held at Salisbury Market on 3rd December this year.
Government movement restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of Blue Tongue disease have meant that it is now impossible to transport the show animals to the Market. Island Echo reported on a case being identified on the Isle of Wight earlier this month.
Chairman Matt Legge has said:
“It is very unfortunate, but unavoidable that we have had to take this difficult decision. We have been kindly hosted by Tapnell Farm, Freshwater in recent years but this year they could not accommodate us, the building at the Show Ground was not yet ready so we decided some months ago, as a temporary measure to go to Salisbury. Subsequently, the movement restrictions were imposed so that is now impossible and we cannot find and licence a suitable pre-Christmas venue on the Island.
“Many competitors who have been preparing animals for the show are disappointed but we were able to hold a local show preparation and training event over the weekend at Allan King’s farm at Sibbecks Park, Whitwell, which proved popular and gives us some continuity, especially for younger competitors who we hope will show cattle and sheep at next year’s event in the new building at Northwood where we are very grateful to the Royal Isle of Wight Agricultural Society for kindly agreeing to host us going forward”.
Matt adds:
“This unfortunate cancellation is just the latest of many challenges facing the Island’s farming community, the weather is always a challenge and Blue Tongue movement restriction have not only hit the market but also affected where we can sell our livestock at this important time of year.
Article continues below this advertisement “Inflation has increased the costs of feed, fertiliser and other inputs whilst the latest budget looks to be going to hit many of the Island’s family farms with the changes in Inheritance Tax.
“Nonetheless, the farming community is resilient and we will continue to strive to preserve the Island’s agricultural economy and work to make local food available to the community”
The committee are determined to keep the centuries-old tradition of the Gilten Market going and will go ahead with the Annual Gilten Dinner which will be held in the New Year – date and details to be confirmed shortly.
The Gilten Market will return in 2025 in the new building at the County Show Ground in Northwood.
