| 2008 East of England regional winners |
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Four local businesses are celebrating winning East of England regional titles in the Countryside Alliance Awards and will now vie for a national title against winners from the rest of Britain. Local Food Award: Abbey Farm, Stixwould, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire http://www.abbey-farm.co.uk/ 01526 351739. Regional Director and Head Judge Alice Barnard commented: “This is a working farm not a farm shop. However if you are passing then you can drop in and choose your meat from the chiller! James takes his food to point-to-points, shows and local markets to sell. He champions rare English breeds of cattle and pigs including the Lincoln Red and the Gloucester old spot. Both James and Lucy Barclay are passionate about what they do and make a huge contribution to the local and wider community, from hosting four different hunts to education days and fundraising for underprivileged children to championing British farming. Local food is far, far more than a job!” Village Shop / PO Award: Otley Village Store, Otley, Ipswich, Suffolk 01473 890257. Alice says: “Andrew and Penny Sunaway are a vital, integral and irreplaceable part of village life. They support a multiple of local charities and are part of the fabric of the community. They notice if a regular hasn’t been in for their paper and know peoples typical routine. They will check some of their older customers or do home deliveries if they are ill or infirm. Andrew and Penny are passionate about their business and offer the best service possible – this is a village shop, garden centre, winery and free delivery service. Otley still stands out as the standard to attain in this category. I hope they can go all the way! Highly Commended: Colne Engaine Village Shop, Essex Traditional Business Award: Trussels Butchers, Knebworth, Hertfordshire 01438 812304. Alice says: “This traditional, high quality butcher is very interactive with the local community and operates a mobile butchers, which visits the surrounding villages. It supports the local Scouts and guides groups and a local ‘linkup’ service which provides hot meals to the elderly. Trussels also supports local shoots and all game for sale in the shop is from shoots in surrounding villages. The traditional shop still has the original fittings from over a hundred years ago and there are pictures of the butchers from when it first opened. Four generations of the family have maintained the highest standards and make Trussels a worthy winner.” Enterprise Award: Greenstead Green Farm Shop, Halstead, Essex, 01787 472807. Alice says: As well as being a farm shop Chris and Tanya Butler have opened a post office and café so to serve a wide and varied community beyond just the village. All the food is sourced locally. Everything sold in the shop and café champions local producers and allows the customers access to what the Butlers feel is very important; good quality home grown produce. The beautiful barn conversion here is part of an ongoing development, and the Butlers’ enterprising flair has singled them out for honours in these Awards.” Highly Commended: South Witham Broadband, Lincolnshire |
