Welcome to the 'Rural Oscars' - meet our Regional Champions!3rd February - the winners for the Midlands, Scotland, Ireland and the Eastern Region will be announced shortly! Other regions have now declared their Regional Champions of 2011 - click on "Regional Champions" to find out if your region is one of them, and to meet the best of British in your area. The Scottish winners will be announced at a Holyrood reception in Edinburgh on 8th February. The Awards are our annual celebration of our rural enterprises, produce, heritage and communities through the people who work so hard for a countryside we all love. Regional Champions now go forward to the Grand Final, which will be held at Parliament on 7th March 2012. All Regional Champions will be invited to Westminster to hear who has taken the overall titles in each category. |
Kirdford makes the front page!Friday, 3 February 2012 Kirdford Stores' victory in the South East Village Shop category has made the front page of the West Sussex County Times. Village shop in line for an ‘Oscar’. Sue Ransley, chair of Kirdford Village Stores, said: “We are amazed and delighted to receive this award - this is such a popular and well supported initiative run by an organisation that is so well respected amongst rural communities." Read more...Unique Medicine Garden's win gains media attentionFriday, 3 February 2012 Surrey media reports "An enterprising non-profit company has scooped a regional prize in the "rural Oscars". The Medicine Garden in Cobham won the South East Enterprise category in the Countryside Alliance Awards, and staff will head to the House of Lords on March 7 to hear if they have won a national title. Founder Paul Studholme began renovating a Victorian walled garden to create a community space in 2006. Speaking about the award, he said: "I was really very flattered, excited, incredibly pleased and also very grateful to all the people who nominated us." Read more...The Oxford Mail lauds Foxbury Farm ShopFriday, 3 February 2012 The Oxford Mail has reported "Farm shop wins gong at 'rural Oscars'". The report read: "Foxbury Farm owner Colin Dawes said “We are all delighted. “With the doom and gloom in the country, it is a great start to 2012 to win such a prestigious award in a competition which is fiercely competitive.” Countryside Alliance regional director Michelle Nudds said: “Colin and his team’s passion for reconnecting people with our countryside is something the Countryside Alliance is proud to support.” Read more...Antrobus victory reported in the Northwich GuardianThursday, 2 February 2012 Cheshire shop Antrobus has won the coveted title of the top Village Shop in the North West and now goes forward to the Grand Final. The Northwich Guardian has reported "Antrobus Village Shop triumphs in regional awards". Kath Hankey, volunteer, said: “We were really surprised when we found out. When the letter was delivered I never even opened it until nearly closing because we were so busy.” And now a team from the store is coming to Parliament! Read more...The Newcastle Journal hails HumshaughTuesday, 31 January 2012 The Newcastle Journal reports: "Humshaugh Village Shop branching out into orchard business" saying "Buoyed by a second successive victory in the regional Countryside Alliance Awards, the shop is again heading for the House of Lords to contest the national finals village shop category in March. And it’s all systems go for another great year, with the orchard and honey projects high up the agenda." |
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