Countryside Alliance Award Winners Announced

The ninth annual ceremony was held at the Houses of Parliament on 30th April, and acted as a celebration of the skills and enterprise of small rural British business.

Owen Paterson, environment secretary said, “These awards celebrate rural businesses across the UK from post offices to butchers, they are the backbone of rural life and it is vital that we do all we can help create the right conditions to allow these businesses to compete and thrive.”

The winners of the four categories, Butcher, Local Food, Village Shop/Post Office and Start-up are as follows:

Butcher
Winner: H Weatherhead & Sons Butchers, Yorkshire
Judge’s comments: “Last year’s Yorkshire Champions return bigger and better than ever. Now with Q Guild status (the hallmark of the quality butcher) Weatherhead’s is soon to open a new shop nearby, giving more people the opportunity to try their phenomenal produce. The Weatherheads have been Pateley Bridge butchers for generations and have adapted and survived while remaining relevant and busy on the modern high street. A visit to their farm shows the commitment to animal welfare, traceability and taste – all things consumers should insist upon. The personal charisma of Andrew Weatherhead and his young daughter’s enthusiasm for farming mean the Weatherheads of Pateley Bridge are a brand to be reckoned with.”

Local Food
Winner: Our Cow Molly, Dungworth, South Yorkshire
Judge’s comments: “Just visiting this bustling dairy farm puts a smile on your face, and that’s before you’ve even tasted the ice-cream. With the dairy industry in freefall the Andrew family redoubled its efforts to go the distance for the next generation – a gutsy move that has paid off. Eddie Andrew’s energy and commitment is richly deserving of this award.”

Village Shop/Post Office
Winner: Chalke Valley Stores, Wiltshire
Judge’s comments: “One of the nominations for Chalke Valley described it as “indispensable” and my fellow judge described her visit as “an absolute pleasure”.  This is such a great story with so many facets that you hardly know where to start, it is simply incredible. This community has really turned its fortunes around with this shop and everyone involved deserves national recognition.”

Start-up
Winner: Spuds and Berries, Yorkshire
Judge’s comments: “Laura Wass is still only 23, and having started up a pick-your-own on part of her parents’ farm, two years on she presides over a busy farm shop and extensive restaurant serving the best of Yorkshire produce. Laura is a no-nonsense businesswoman who acknowledges that being young and female in the farming industry often brings its own problems, but she has stayed focused on her mission of providing great produce and a meeting place for local people. The restaurant has only been open since November 2013 and already has wedding bookings for the year, which is a tribute to Laura’s marketing and business skills. With plans to extend the PYO and plant an orchard it is clear that Laura is a farming force for the future.”