THE annual Melplash Agricultural Society'’s ploughing and hedging match takes place on Saturday, September 21 at Higher Langdon, near Beaminster, on Tessa Mackenzie-Green’s land.

Dan Newman, society chairman, said: “The ploughing match has always played a major role in the work of the Melplash Agricultural Society.

“In fact it was after a ploughing match held in Melplash Village in 1846 to resolve a dispute between two farmers as to whose ploughman was the better that the Melplash Agricultural Society was formed.

“The tradition of holding a ploughing match is very much alive today. “Classes are open for both vintage and match ploughing and will also include again, following the success of last year, a special Contractors’ Challenge.”

Over the years the hedge laying competition has been added, another rural craft that the society is keen to promote and encourage people to get involved in.

The popular free hedge-laying training day is taking place in Corscombe on Saturday, September 14 starting at 1.30pm and finishing at 5pm.

Students will be shown how to lay a hedge the Dorset-way, will be given hands-on training and will be encouraged to enter the novice hedge laying competition.

Anyone interested in attending contact the Melplash Agricultural Society office on 01308 423337 or email lucy@melplashshow.co.uk.

The hedging and ploughing schedule is available on the website melplashshow.co.uk or from the show office in South Street. The closing date for entries is September 18.

The ploughing and hedging match is free to attend.

On the day there will be a tractor and expert help available for those that would like to have a go at ploughing for the first time.