Great Yorkshire Show day two sees temperatures rise

A total of 37,500 people flocked to the show today, with 150,000 visiting the event over the four days.

Peter Wright once again made an appearance at the show, and was put to good use inspecting children’s veg box competition entries, before taking part in a talk and a meet and greet for fans.

Peter, star of Channel 5’s The Yorkshire Vet, admitted that the popular TV show almost didn’t happen after he told producers when it first started, “I don’t think it will work”.

However, 22 series later, he was proven wrong and has claimed “it’s the most unusual but most rewarding job” during a talk on the Ariat GYS stage.

Elsewhere, talking diversification on farm and moorland, Paul Tompkins, deputy president of the National Farmers’ Union said he and the union would “always favour” using good-quality land for food production or sustainability over renewable energy projects.

His comments come after an application was submitted to build 23, 200-metre-high wind turbines on the remote Hope Moor site between Arkengarthdale and Teesdale.

Mr Tompkins, who farms at South Acre Farm in the Vale of York, milking a herd of 400 Holstein cows, said: “Farmers do have to diversify and adjust to the renewable energy game, but it has to be done in the right way.

“Land should be prioritised for food production, and arguments about renewable energy should be balanced with concerns for landscape, tourism and communities.”

He called on farmers, farming groups and the government to have an “open dialogue” when it comes to renewable energy.

Countryside conservation talks included panels discussing how best to restore curlew populations across the uplands; and River Ure supporters explaining why they are passionate about seeing wild Atlantic salmon be a self-sustaining species once more.

Brian Towers, fishing guide on the Castle Bolton estate, said: “There are lots of issues for wild Salmon in the Ure, but one of the main problems is that stock is being decimated by predators and we are not getting the returning salmon to breed after going out to sea.

“We have offered many solutions to the Government and Environment Agency, such as controlling bird populations which eat young salmon and creating hatcheries to support the salmon – but we are not allowed or being listened to.”

The talk heard how the River Ure was historically rich with salmon, but the population has now all but disappeared.

The show continues on Thursday and Friday, with all tickets sold out in advance.