T
he sixth annual Countryside Alliance Awards are now open to public nomination, and Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates is urging the local community to get nominating.
The Countryside Alliance Awards, nicknamed the ‘Rural Oscars’, were borne of a need to support and promote rural communities. They celebrate people going the extra mile to ensure that rural Wales’ food and farming industry, small businesses, traditional skills, forward-thinking enterprises and, most of all, its people, can flourish.
Mick Bates AM commented:
“The Countryside Alliance Awards are a great way to promote the local businessmen and women who are working hard to keep rural Wales ticking. Our local produce is second to none and there are many community heroes and businesses worthy of greater recognition, so please get involved and nominate today.
“Previous local contenders have included ‘Derwen Farm Shop’ and ‘Dereks Plaice fish mongers’ in Welshpool, ‘Montgomeryshire Meat’ in Llansantffraid. These fantastic local businesses have helped raise awareness of the excellent quality goods that we are proud to produce and enjoy. Let’s see if this year we can bring a British title home and celebrate our success in Montgomeryshire.”
The Awards run across the following eight categories:
- Local food Award
- Village shop/Post Office Award
- Enterprise Award
- The Daily Telegraph Traditional Business Award
- Butcher Award
- Hunter Rural Hero (16 and 0ver)
- Hunter Rural Hero (15 and under)
- Grassroots Award for the Countryside Alliance member who has done the most to advance rural campaigning in 2010.
Nominations are open online at www.countrysideallianceawards.co.uk between Monday 6th September and Friday 22nd October. Regional judging will take place.
