Recently, Sara Lee, Director of the Countryside Alliance Awards, wrote to let me know that two businesses in North East Somerset are in contention to win a Southwest Regional title in the Rural Enterprise and Butcher categories respectively.
Ms Lee told me that West of England Falconry in Newton St. Loe and Somer Valley Butchers in Peasedown St. John have been nominated for these accolades and are two out of thousands of organisations that have been nominated. The Awards, otherwise known as “The Rural Oscars,” are the most prestigious rural business ones to win and give a platform to the best of our country’s produce, enterprise, heritage and communities.
Judging will take place via a public vote and the winners will be announced in March. Voting is not yet open but please see the website below for further details. Those with the most votes will then go forward to compete against winners from across the country in the grand final.
If West of England Falconry and/or Somer Valley Butchers win the Rural Enterprise and/or Butcher title, they will be invited to the House of Lords for the winners’ reception on 17th May 2023 where their success will be celebrated and announcements will be made as regards the overall national winners of each category.
These Awards have been successful in highlighting the diversity of rural enterprise and the determination of communities to survive and prosper, often against the odds, so I am delighted and proud that these two fine businesses have reached the regional finals of the competition, representing our great constituency. I wish them every success.
Information about the awards can be found here: www.countryside-alliance.org/our-work/rural-awards/caawards.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance: [email protected].
