Agricultural Society

Three Counties is a charity. Its charitable objectives are to promote Agriculture, Horticulture, Arboriculture, Apiculture, Rural Skills and Crafts and Conservation for the Public Benefit.

Today we fulfil our objectives through staging our popular fundraising shows at our 90-acre showground, centrally located on the borders of the three counties it serves: Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. We undertake various additional educational activities, including putting on a free Careers Fair, hosting Pathways Day Service for young adults with learning disabilities, sponsoring a Nuffield Scholar and administering two educational bursary schemes. We care for and continue to develop the National Collection of Perry Pear trees on-site, safeguarding this unique local heritage for future generations.

Together, our four main shows attract a footfall in excess of 250,000 and have far-reaching influence, bringing together industry leaders, experts and visitors from all parts of the UK. It is difficult to overestimate the impact of our flagship event, the three day Royal Three Counties Show, which has been running for over 100 years. It is a highlight in the rural calendar for generations of local people and a unique showcase to a much wider audience for farmers, stockmen, equestrians, farriers, forestry and rural professionals, local artisans, food producers and all kinds of businesses. We also host RHS Malvern Spring Festival (a partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society), Malvern Autumn Show and CountryTastic, all of which have a strong educational focus.

Since the COVID pandemic we have sought to diversify our income streams in line with many other charities through investing in our facilities and boosting our income from venue hire. The local economy benefits enormously from the 70+ external hire events the Showground hosts annually as a premier business venue. The Agricultural Society hires out the showground to third parties for exhibitions, conferences, animal shows, trade fairs and leisure events such as flea fairs, auctions and vehicle enthusiasts’ jamborees. Over a million visitors a year come through the gates of the showground and it makes an annual contribution to the local economy.

For Farmers

Three Counties is proud to support farmers and the rural community, by raising awareness of the importance of British agriculture by investing in producing the Royal Three Counties Show each year. Find out more about what we do here.

UK Rural Event of the Year 2024 Winner and 2025 Finalist

Royal Three Counties Show was crowned UK Rural Event of the Year 2024 by the NOEA awards, highlighting the show’s significance and excellence in celebrating rural life, agriculture, and the community. This is a huge honour for everyone involved in making the event such a success.

If you would like updates about what we offer For Farmers at the Royal Three Counties Show, please sign up to our newsletter here.

Latest Updates

Stockman’s Café

The brand new Stockman’s Café was officially opened at Royal Three Counties Show 2026, thanks to generous support from our donors.

In return for a £100 minimum donation, we’re offering the opportunity to have your name or message engraved on a brick featured on a Donor Wall inside the café. Find out more here.

Corporate Donor

Three Counties Agricultural Society is grateful for the support of our corporate donor, Stanilod Group. Their regular donations are providing prize money to competitors in the Orchard and Hopyard Pavilion at Malvern Autumn Show, supporting Worcestershire school students to attend our annual Careers Fair and contributing to the maintenance of our National Collection of Perry Pears.

Based in Evesham, the Stanilod Group is a family-owned group of three specialist food ingredients businesses. Barnes Williams has more than 35 years’ experience importing and supplying dehydrated garlic, onion, herbs, spices, fruit and vegetables. The Chilli Doctor specialises in chilli ingredients sourced from around the world, while BW Catering Products supplies a wide range of products to the catering and foodservice sector.

Grant Funding

Grant funding we have secured has allowed us to:

• Maintain, extend and promote our National Collection of Perry Pears and our Apple Orchard. Grants totalling over £30,000 from Malvern Hills National Landscape and Coronation Living Heritage Fund have paid for the planting of over 100 new trees, pruning and maintenance, DNA analysis, interpretation boards, leaflets, and educational activities.
• Install a new weather station and sensor suite that uses advanced LoRa WAN technology to monitor environmental and safety conditions across the site. The project was supported by the River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region with funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and delivered by CyRIC IOT.  Read more here and watch a video about the project here.
• Commission an AccessAble in-depth guide to our facilities for visitors with accessibility needs. Click here to view this.
• Make substantial improvements to the Showground campsite year on year so it’s more welcoming, has better facilities and the season of use can be extended. Part funded by the UK Government in partnership with Malvern Hills District Council.
• Undertake training and purchase equipment to enhance accessibility for visitors, such as ticket office hearing loops. Funded by Visit Worcestershire Accessible Tourism Programme.
• Access funding from the Hereford Corn Exchange Trust to support Herefordshire schools’ participation in our shows and the careers fair.