The Poultry Club Trustees have been working behind the scenes to prepare for the 2020 National Show, assuming government rules allow events to take place in December. We know a lot of members have had a successful breeding season and are keen to show this year, and we are encouraged by the fact that a higher number of leg rings have been sold compared to 2019.

To ensure the safety of our members, volunteers and judges the ‘look and feel’ of the National Show are likely be different to previous events, with the principles of social distancing, personal hygiene, cleanliness and safety at the forefront of how the show will operate.

We anticipate that the changes required may include such measures as: wider aisles, new/different entrances/exits, a one-way system around the halls, additional toilet facilities, cashless payments, use of santisers and masks. There may also be impacts on the use of rooms for Club meetings and other planned gatherings. An earlier start to the departure process or a phased boxing strategy to prevent the famous ‘mad rush’ at the end of the show may also be implemented. For instance, exhibitors may be allowed to leave in staggered groups. We are sure that by all member’s working together to maintain social distancing the National Show can be a great success, as it has in previous years.

With these and other changes in place, we are planning on the National Show going ahead and will comply with government requirements in place to be COVID secure. The measures outlined are subject to change according to future government and public health advice. We are working closely with Telford International Centre to make the show as secure as possible. However, should the centre be instructed to remain closed (or to reclose) then the National Show would be unable to proceed.

The Trustees are continually monitoring the situation and will follow public health advice and government guidance. So long as public gatherings are expected to be allowed to take place in the autumn, the trustees will continue to plan for the National Show to go ahead. We will, of course, keep members and exhibitors updated on any developments. In the meantime, we would like your views on what other changes should be considered to allow the show to go ahead safely so we have set up two mechanisms to enable you to feed your views back to the show organisers:

1. An online survey where you can answer a few simple questions and record any other opinions you have. Click the survey link at https://forms.gle/4JyDSw3oLDUACemM7
2. A dedicated National Show email address. You can use this send us your comments and ask us questions by emailing nationalshow@poultryclub.org.

The responses and queries received will be used to develop a public FAQ sheet, which we will update as new information becomes available. We hope you will take this opportunity to help us plan a safe and successful show.

Best regards from the PCGB Board of Trustees.