It was the first day of a major agricultural event celebrating all things farming, food and rural living.

The Kent County Show at Detling, near Maidstone, has kicked off with a bang.

Spanning over the next three days, the packed programme includes returning favourites but also new activities and features for people to discover.

Reporters from KMFM and KMTV have been at the showground to keep people up-to-date with what’s going on.

To mark the start of the event, the Duchess of Edinburgh made an appearance.

It’s the first time that Sophie – who grew up in Brenchley, near Tunbridge Wells, and is a patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO) – has been to Detling in 16 years.

She met local farmers and their livestock and talked to equine exhibitors and local businesses.

KMTV reporter, Henry Luck, also spoke with several organisations today (July 4) and asked why the county show is so important to them.

Hadley Glover is one of the youngest vice chairs at the Young Farmers' Club (YFC), which is celebrating its 80th anniversary.

He said: “I’m very fortunate in the fact that I have a well-established family farm.

“Obviously that’s not the case for everyone, so it is important to me that we maintain these spaces for young people to get into farming.

“The Kent County Show allows our members to be proud of what they are doing. It allows the public to learn from our members as well. It’s a good educational experience for everyone."

He added: “The biggest challenge for modern farmers is the lack of understanding on all sides.

“I feel like the farming industry is villainised and somewhat misunderstood.

“It felt very special to speak to the Duchess of Edinburgh, hear her interest in what we are doing and how invested she is in the future of our members.”

Kent Youth Trials Club also has its own demonstration area at the event.

It is a skilled sport where a rider manoeuvres a bike through a designated area of land called a section, using throttle, clutch and brake control.

Director Joseph Griffin explained how the sport not only helps teach children about the control of a vehicle but also the essence of camaraderie.

“The end of the day, they aren’t competing against each other – the rider is competing against the course,” he said.

“It’s a very friendly sport and the children get on brilliantly. There isn’t a tablet or phone in sight. It gives a real sense of community.”

Simon Springate, Kent's Plan Bee Project Officer at Bumblebee Conservation Trust, also has a stall at the showground and is giving out free information about the humble insect.

They also have a lucky dip and seeds that can be purchased.

He commented: “Conservation is so important, as they are part of our biodiversity but also for the pollination of our flowers and crops.

“We’ve lost 97% of our wildflower meadows in the last 100 years, which has had a big impact on the survival of a lot of species.

“In Kent, we have five of the rarest bumblebees. The general public can really help with this.”

To see the full schedule of events, please click here.

Matthew Cullen, chairman of the Kent County Agricultural Society, told KentOnline there is a real buzz in the air.

He said: “There's lots on offer, from the livestock section with all the animals, young farmers, equine sports and food halls.

“We’ve also got something a little unusual this year...live camel racing. It isn’t what you’d normally get to see.”

“At the moment, farming is going through a real tough time,” he added.

“We are committed to supporting the agricultural and rural communities. For farmers, it's a chance to network and build relationships.

“At the showground, you get to learn where your food comes from, how it's produced and delivered.

“We all know it [Kent] as the Garden of England, so for the rural and farming sector it's a proud moment to come together and show off to the general public.”

Following the major publicity of Jeremy Clarkson's TV show, Clarkson's Farm, which aired on Amazon Prime, the industry is in the spotlight now more than ever.

Matthew says it has brought farming “to the forefront” of people’s minds and has seen across different agricultural events that there has been a spike in interest.

Over the weekend, the team expects to see between 60,000 to 70,000 people attend – depending on the weather.

You can still book tickets for the show here.

Adult tickets cost £22 and child tickets cost £3 when booked in advance. You can also pay at the gate. Under 5s go free.