Sector: Charities & not-for-profit organisations
Three Counties Agricultural Society is a charity whose purpose is to promote agriculture, horticulture and rural enterprise across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
It aims to celebrate and raise awareness of farming, rural life, crafts, skills and conservation for the benefit of the public.
Every year, more than a million visitors are welcomed to the 90-acre Three Counties Showground for exhibitions, conferences, animal shows, trade fairs and leisure events. This includes the annual RHS Malvern Spring Festival, Malvern Autumn Show, Countrytastic and the Royal Three Counties Show, which was awarded Royal Status in 2014.
The charity’s origins go back as far as 1797, after which Herefordshire Agricultural Society held its first annual show the following year. Much later on, the society amalgamated with Worcestershire in 1894 and Gloucestershire in 1921. The annual Three Counties Show rotated between the counties until the purchase of its permanent site near Malvern in 1958.
Now, over 65 years later, the site has grown to encompass 298 acres, including a range of permanent buildings, a woodland and a lake. With the iconic Malvern hills as its backdrop, the showground is one of the most attractive in the country and through its activities and events, Three Counties Agricultural Society contributes significantly – both financially and charitably – to the local economy each year.
Willans’ real estate team first advised Three Counties Agricultural Society in connection with leasing land adjacent to its showground, which included lease drafting, negotiation and ultimately ensuring the successful completion of the transaction.
Our expertise and quality of work led to supporting the charity with further legal challenges and matters, such as advising senior management on employment law, and resulted in the appointment of Willans as Three Counties’ official legal partner.
To find out more, visit https://threecounties.co.uk/
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Alasdair Garbutt LLB (Hons)
Partner
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Emma Thompson LLB (Hons)
Senior associate, solicitor
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