At its heart, The Game Fair is a celebration of the working countryside: the skills, machinery, ingenuity and practical knowledge that keep rural life moving forward. That is exactly why we are delighted to welcome Henry Cole to The Game Fair, located fittingly within The Land Management area.
Celebrating the working countryside
Land management is about problemsolving. It’s about keeping machinery running, repairing rather than replacing, and knowing how to make the most of what you have. Long before sustainability became a buzzword, the countryside lived by the principle of make do and mend.
Henry Cole’s entire body of work reflects that ethos.
Through wellknown programmes such as Shed and Buried, Find It, Fix It, Flog It and Junk & Disorderly, Henry has spent decades championing the repair, reuse and revival of old machinery, tools and equipment – much of it found in barns, sheds and workshops across rural Britain. His focus is not museumperfect restoration, but practical refurbishment: getting things running again, preserving originality and respecting the story behind the machine.
Machinery is part of countryside heritage
The countryside runs on machinery. From classic tractors and farm equipment to 4x4s like Defenders, bikes, engines and tools, machinery underpins how land is worked, managed and cared for. Henry Cole has long been fascinated by:
- classic tractors
- working machinery
- motorcycles
- mechanical engineering rooted in function, not flash
Along with his love for fishing, Henry’s passions reflect an active, handson relationship with the landscape rather than a passive one. His interests naturally align with the values celebrated at The Game Fair: selfreliance, practical skill and respect for rural heritage.
Why the Land Management area is the perfect home
Henry’s presence at The Game Fair is intentionally not a static celebrity appearance. He and his longstanding team bring a live, working shed environment to the show – engines spluttering into life, tools in hand, conversations flowing.
This is why the Land Management area makes sense:
- it places him among forestry, estate and countryside machinery
- it reflects real rural working practice
- it highlights the link between heritage engineering and modern land use
Visitors won’t just see machinery – they’ll see the skill and knowledge behind keeping it going.
Keeping the tradition alive
The Game Fair continues to evolve, welcoming new audiences while staying true to its roots. Henry Cole helps bridge that gap. His work resonates with:
- farmers and land managers
- estate workers and keepers
- engineers and machinery enthusiasts
- families who value countryside skills and sustainability
Shooting, fishing, gundogs, food, forestry and machinery all form part of the same countryside story.
Henry Cole at The Game Fair
Henry Cole is at The Game Fair because he represents something fundamental to rural life: the ability to fix, adapt and keep going. His approach mirrors the values that have sustained the countryside for generations and continue to define land management today.
Whether it’s a battered tractor, a rebuilt engine, or a Defender kept alive through skill, the principle is the same – and it’s one The Game Fair is proud to celebrate.
