NORTH SOMERSET SHOWGROUND
BELMONT AcQUIRES THE NORTH SOMERSET SHOWGROUND
Belmont Estate is delighted to announce that it has acquired the land known as the North Somerset Show Ground from the North Somerset Agricultural Society.
Situated between Belmont’s Watercress Farm and the Grade II listed landscape, the newly acquired land represents an important step in reuniting the Estate and expanding our activities.
The Nature Connection programme has already enabled close to 20,000 children, young people and adults to connect physically with nature, farming and the land at no cost and, at Watercress Farm, the species count recorded by Belmont’s 300+ ecology volunteers has now risen to more than 2,850 compared with 340 when Belmont launched its pioneering Bristol based nature recovery initiative, the Watercress rewilding project, and created the Watercress Wetland.
The additional land will enable Belmont not only to extend this nature recovery and educational work, but also, importantly, to expand its organic food production with produce grown at Belmont supplied to local restaurants and Belmont’s own community events.
The purchase represents Belmont’s 12th acquisition as part of the reunification of the historic Belmont Estate, whose origins date back at least to the 1700s, many years before the period during which it was conjoined with neighbouring Tyntesfield between 1870 and 2002.
Belmont is particularly pleased that the proceeds of the purchase will enable the North Somerset Agricultural Society to significantly develop its activities and its vital support for British farming, food production and agriculture. The North Somerset Show is also understood to be continuing, with the Society continuing at a new location with an interim site, already being prepared for May 2027.
Frequently asked questions
What will happen to the north somerset show and other events at the showground?
The North Somerset Agricultural Society (NSAS) would like to reassure everyone that the show will continue. An interim site is already being prepared for the next event on Monday 3 May 2027. The new location, is a short distance from the A38 near Redhill, which will allow them to host the familiar favourites that visitors value, including livestock, horses, the Food Hall and much more.
NSAS is also in close communication with the organisers of other events that usually take place at the showground. Please get in touch with the organisers directly to find out where that event will take place.
belmont events
Belmont has a full and healthy programme of community events. This programme continues to expand and will grow further in light of our ownership of the land. Please click here for further details.
is there public access across the site?
North Somerset Showground (traditionally called Bathing Pond Fields) has always been privately owned, never available for unrestricted public access and this position continues under Belmont ownership. Members of the public are asked to remain on designated public footpaths (no plans to change these) as has always been the case under the previous ownership of the North Somerset Agricultural Society. Ecological volunteers will be seen away from footpaths but always identifiable by their designated Belmont volunteer caps.
what is belmont planning to do with the land?
Belmont is developing its proposals for the future use of the land which we hope will include a combination of food production, nature recovery and nature connection together with community events. Belmont has no plans for housing development on the land.
what about the bathing ponds?
The listed Victorian bathing ponds remain in a very dangerous and dilapidated state. Access to them remains prohibited. They do not have any water in at the moment but they do contain deep mud and other hazards. Belmont will be exploring the possibilities for their renovation but this will be an expensive and long term project even if successful.
will it still be called north somerset showground?
Although the term The North Somerset Showground has become relatively widespread this is an unofficial and informal designation that dates only from 2002, the year that the North Somerset Agricultural Society purchased the land from the Tyntesfield Estate. The more traditional name for the land is Bathing Pond Fields and dates back to around 1890 and the time at which Belmont was temporarily conjoined with Tyntesfield.