The annual Countryside Alliance Awards are now open to public nomination, and Richard Benyon is urging the local community to get nominating.
The Countryside Alliance Awards, nicknamed the ‘Rural Oscars’, were born of a need to support and promote rural communities. They celebrate people going the extra mile to ensure that rural Britain’s food and farming industry, small businesses, traditional skills, forward-thinking enterprises and, most of all, its people, can flourish.
Richard Benyon commented, ‘These awards are an excellent way to promote the local businessmen and women who are working hard to keep rural Britain thriving. Our local produce is second to none and there are many community heroes and businesses worthy of national recognition, so please do get involved and nominate today.
‘Well-known local names like Vicars Game have been winners in the past while Compton Village Store, the Pot Kiln and Cold Ash Village Shop have all been mentioned in dispatches. I hope we can bring another title home for West Berkshire this year.’
The Awards run across the following categories:
- Local Food Award
- Village shop/ Post Office Award
- Rural Enterprise Award
- Butcher Award
- Rural Pub Award
Nominations are open online at www.countryside-alliance.org/caawards until mid-November. Judging will take place after that and national winners will be announced at the House of Lords in Spring 2018.