The final preparations are being made for this year’s Suffolk Show.

A team of volunteer stewards have been tirelessly working over the past few months and more than 400 will be on hand throughout the county show, tomorrow and Thursday, to ensure everything goes to plan.

They leave nothing to chance and cover everything from maintenance and hospitality through to livestock and car parking.

Lawns have been mowed, the marquees are up, the display rings have been marked out and the large machinery is in place.

Sprinklers and watering systems have also rained down on the 250-acre site for the past six weeks.

Estate manager Bob Gray said: “Irrigating the ground in the horse rings is particularly vital and we have been watering them virtually 24 hours a day.”

A real focus this year is on encouraging visitors to recycle their rubbish, placing cans and plastic bottles into one of the 300 blue bins on site.

John Taylor, senior steward for maintenance, said “We want to recycle as much as we possibly can – that’s a big part of what we are doing.

“We would ask members of the public to think about where they are putting their rubbish.”

For the first time the Trinity Park Events catering team will be cooking for the Stockmen’s Canteen, directors’ marquee and the Press centre.

There will be 24 staff serving food to about 1,000 people from 6am through to 11pm on both days. Chris Bushby, executive director of the Suffolk Agricultural Association, said: “There is an awful amount of energy, effort and planning that goes into putting on a county show for two days.

“It’s a year-long programme of meetings with many different organisations. An incredible amount of people give up their time for free. I am very proud of it.”

Show director Peter Over added: “It takes a monster effort from a tremendous amount of people.

“I genuinely believe we have a quality event and we are looking forward to welcoming visitors through our gates. I think there is a little something for everyone.”

craig.robinson@eadt.co.uk