Ribble Valley Food Trail wins national recognition!
The Ribble Valley Food Trail has won a “Highly Commended” prize at the prestigious Countryside Alliance Awards finals in London. A team from Ribble Valley Borough Council accepted the commendation in the Enterprise category.
The Food Trail claimed the North West regional title in February, propelling it into the national final where it was up against 11 other regional winners from across England, Wales and Scotland. The Awards were announced at a House of Lords reception on 18th March.
The Awards run across five categories, with a national title and commendation given in each category. Countryside Alliance Chief Executive Simon Hart announced the winners at the reception, which was attended by Parliamentarians and winners from across Wales, England and Scotland. The Countryside Alliance Awards are a celebration of our rural communities and their spirit, through the characters who work so hard to keep them ticking.
Countryside Alliance Chief Executive Simon Hart, who chairs the national judging panel, told the reception “This is an inspirational initiative demonstrating what can be done by forward thinking. A unique council project aiming to regenerate and support businesses in an area hit hard by foot and mouth, this outfit cunningly merges local food and tourism to produce an effect much bigger than the sum of its parts. The “never say die” approach of rural Britain is encapsulated in the Ribble Valley Food Trail. The trail links small rural businesses including butchers, restaurants, dairies and bakeries on a route around the Lancashire countryside, and shows that tourism and local food are an enterprising force to be reckoned with.”
Rural Enterprise Award: Winner: Loch Visions, Kilchrenan, Argyll
Highly Commended: Ribble Valley Food Trail, Clitheroe, Lancashire, www.ribblevalleyfoodtrail.com/ 01200 425566
Local Food Award: Winner: Newlyns Farm, North Warnborough, Hook, Hampshire
Highly Commended: Llwynhelyg Farm Shop, Sarnau, Ceredigion
Post Office/Village Shop Award: Winner: Morgan’s Newsagents and Post Office, Llangadog, Carmarthenshire
Highly Commended: The Shop@Stanwick, Northamptonshire
Traditional Business Award: Winner: Wellington Carriage Company, Telford, Shropshire
Highly Commended: Lains Shooting School, Andover, Hampshire
Rural Hero Award – Winner: Ian Pigott, founder of Open Farm Sunday
For more information www.countrysideallianceawards.co.uk