‘Rural Oscars’ set to resume as Alliance search for ‘Rural Heroes’

A national awards ceremony which recognises outstanding businesses in the countryside, has relaunched to comply with restrictions on domestic travel.

The Countryside Alliance Awards, dubbed the ‘Rural Oscars’, which was founded in 2006 has crowned thousands of rural businesses across the country. Entrants, which are categorised, are submitted by members of their local community and judged by a panel. Previous judges have included William Sitwill, food critic and author, Clarissa Dickson Wright, cook; and Micheal Gove MP.

Due to Covid-19 and subsequent lockdown restrictions, the judging for the 2020 Awards was sadly postponed. In a sign of the times, judging will now recommence virtually.

Sarah Lee, Director of the Countryside Alliance Awards said: “ We were incredibly sad to have to postpone judging last year, but it was necessary. There were so many excellent rural businesses nominated by tens of thousands of people from across the countryside. We are pleased to say that those businesses shortlisted for awards last year, will have the opportunity to win this year.”

A reminder of the Regional Finalists from your area:

Liberty Trails- Dartmoor ( Rural Enterprise category)

Yeoman Haylage (Rural Enterprise category)

Aune Valley Meat Ltd- Kingsbridge ( Best butcher category)

Robert Withecombe Butchers- Barnstaple (Best butcher category)

Veysey's Butchers- Cullompton (Best butcher category)

Church Street Stores- Crediton (Best village shop/ post office category)  

Payhembury Provisions- Payhembury (Best village shop/ post office category)  

As well as the usual categories, which include best butcher, best pub and best post office, the Alliance are also seeking the public’s help in finding nominations for ‘Rural Heroes’.

This new category, the Alliance say, is in honour of all those people or community groups in the countryside who have gone the extra mile to help those most in need during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sarah Lee said: “ We all know of someone - or a group of people - whose contribution to their community over the last year has been particularly impressive, so we are launching a special campaign to celebrate those rural heroes who have kept us all going. Whether they delivered our shopping, organised food parcels for our most vulnerable, sewed facemasks for those on the front line, kept our community together with socially distanced street work outs, or just simply put a smile on our faces. 

She added: “ By nature, our Rural Heroes category will feature people focussed on the needs of others and who never expect praise - but we need your help in finding them.”

How can you help the Countryside Alliance find a Rural Hero?

If you know of someone who has gone the extra mile and deserves the recognition and appreciation that this award can grant, please tell us about them.

What makes them so special and why should they be recognised? Our Rural Hero campaign will celebrate those small and big things that have made our lives just that little bit more bearable over the last year. 

Please complete this short form today: Countryside Alliance - Countryside Alliance launches Rural Heroes (countryside-alliance.org)