And the Rural Oscar for local food goes to... Pipers Farm!
The 2012 Countryside Alliance Awards (aka the Rural Oscars) were presented to top rural businesses by the Secretary of State for Defra, Owen Paterson MP, at a ceremony at the Houses of Parliament on 13 March. The Awards are the Countryside Alliance’s annual celebration of rural produce, skills, enterprise and heritage through our small hard-working businesses. They are now in their eighth year and have become the definitive rural business award to win. Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said: “Rural businesses are vital to the country’s economic recovery. The Government is right behind them. We are backing aspiration and giving entrepreneurs the support they need to create jobs and support thriving local communities.”
The Parliamentary reception was attended by Regional Champions from across the UK & Ireland, keen to celebrate rural business and produce. The eventual UK & Ireland Champions were selected from the Regional Champions and their identities were announced live by Countryside Alliance Chairman Kate Hoey MP. The UK & Ireland Champions were selected by a UK & Ireland judging panel at a lunch in February.
Photos will follow in due course. The Champions for the UK & Ireland in 2012 across our five categories have been announced as follows:
Defra Local Food category
UK & Ireland Champion - Pipers Farm, Cullompton, Devon, www.pipersfarm.com 01392 881380 @pipersfarm
“The energy and passion of the Greig family leave you feeling very excited about the future of food and farming – anything is possible here. For 25 years Pipers Farm has been championing not only local food heritage, producing meat that is sensational to eat, but also supporting local family farms that have been the foundations of our rural communities and landscapes for generations. This has resulted in 25 small, family run farms, rearing animals in the same way that their parents and grand-parents would have before them, ensuring that there is a 100% guarantee for Pipers Farm produce. The passion of this family is inspiring. Peter Greig taught himself to butcher and experimented over many years with different cuts until he was satisfied. The family still experiment with different recipes and cuts and the judges were invited to stand around the frying pan at the farm with them to test the produce. It is an inclusive and supportive business that reaches out to and supports myriad local suppliers. Not only is the commitment to animal welfare, great taste and the local community paramount, there is also an encouraging glimpse into the future, with young Will bursting with ideas for the business. Pipers is an exceptional blend of heritage, tradition and dynamic enterprise.”
Highly Commended – Farndon Fields Farm Shop, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, 01858 464 838www.farndonfieldsfarmshop.co.uk @FarndonFieldsFS
Daily Telegraph Village Shop/ Post Office category
UK & Ireland Champion - Orford General Store, Orford, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 01394 450219 www.orfordgeneralstore.com
Highly Commended – Henllan Village Shop & Post Office, Henllan, Denbigh, Denbighshire, LL16 5AR 0845 722 3344
Enterprise category
UK & Ireland Champion – Broughton Hall Estate, Broughton, Skipton 01756 799608 www.broughtonhall.co.uk/ @Broughton_Hall
Joint Highly Commended: Lains Shooting School, Quarley, Andover, Hampshire, www.lainsshootingschool.co.uk 01264 889467
Joint Highly Commended: Cloughmills Community Action Team & Incredible Edibles, 5 Rosemount, Cloughmills, Co Antrim, BT44 9L www.incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk 028 2766 0226. Contact – Patrick Frew – 07786 527732 @CloughmillsCAT
Butcher category
UK & Ireland Champion – JW Mettrick & Sons Butchers, Glossop, Derbyshire www.mettricksbutchers.co.uk/ 01457 852 239 @Mettricks
Joint Highly Commended – William Lloyd Williams & Son, 5-7 Heol Maengwyn, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8AA www.wil-lloyd.co.uk 01654 702106
Joint Highly Commended - Chapman's Butchers, 5 High Street, Baldock, Hertfordshire, SG7 6AZwww.chapmansbutchers.com/ 01462 892359 @chapmansbutcher
Start up category
UK & Ireland Champion – Gower Brewery Companies Ltd, Old Walls, Llanrhidian, Swansea, Abertawe, SA3 1HAwww.gowerbrewery.com @GowerBrewery
Highly commended – Cross Lanes Organic Farm, Cross Lanes, Barnard Castle, www.crosslanesorganics.co.uk/ 01833 630619 @CrossLanesFarm
2012’s Rural Heroes
In addition to the main categories of the Awards the judges’ reserve the right to name “Rural Heroes” for nominees who have impressed us with their dedication, energy and love of the countryside. In the 2012 Awards we named three
Rural Heroes:
Sarah Farnsworth – photographer, Gloucestershire www.sarahfarnsworth.co.uk/
Kay Thompson – photographer, Gloucestershire @KayThompson_ http://kaythompson.zenfolio.com/
Tony Fowler MBE – milkman/ mobile shop, Leicestershire
