Countryside Alliance - love the countryside

"It’s made my year! Just when you think nobody cares, this happens"
David Carr, village shop owner in Longframlington. North East winner 2005, National Winner 2006

The feedback the Countryside Alliance receives from the Awards scheme illustrates the "feelgood factor" it has, and the important role it plays in highlighting positive stories from around rural Britain. Here is a selection of testimonials from the Awards:

....I want to start by referring to some good news. Last week, in the other place, the annual awards for country and rural industries were presented by the Countryside Alliance and others. We saw some wonderful examples of village stores and farm-based businesses. All sorts of different businesses, including a carriage maker, are making a great success of life in rural areas. However, even some of them are facing very real pressures. Such pressures are particularly unique to rural areas....

Mr. James Paice MP during a Westminster Hall debate on the Rural Economy, 24th March 2009 (James is pictured on the right of the below picture)

Dear Countryside Alliance,

Congratulations on holding such a tremendous event, everything was perfect, even the weather!

The villagers are thrilled with the Award , my Post Office looks like a florist.

Thank you all so much for the tremendous work you  put in to raise the profile of life in Rural UK and the support you give to the various  campaigns , in particular the plight of Post Offices.

We so enjoyed our House of Lords visit, made even more special as we were taken on a tour of the two Houses with Baroness Golding.

All the Best

Win, Richard and the Team

(Win and Richard Morgan of Morgans, Welsh and British winners of the Village Shop/ Post Office category in 2008)

 

What a fabulous day we had! Thank you so much, it was a really memorable event and the news has been well covered in  Northamptonshire. We even made the local BBC radio news all weekend, radio interviews and the local evening paper did another full page spread.

Our customers have really enjoyed the news and have made a real fuss of us.

We hope to be there again next year - customers willing!

Kind regards

Vernon

(Vernon Frost from The Shop@Stanwick, highly commended in the Village Shop/ Post Office category in 2008)

 

I have just written to Simon (Hart, Countryside Alliance Chief Executive) saying what a wonderful occasion it was and just sorry I didn’t get to meet all the Team.

Lovely weather, company and canapés …what more could you ask for…(and my wife even got to go shopping to celebrate!)

Thank you once again

Very best regards

Ian

(Ian Pigott, Rural Hero of 2008 and architect of Open Farm Sunday)

 

Great to meet you at the awards ceremony, we all had a great time and thank you to both yourself and the C.A for all of your work.

Howard

(Howard Kirby, Lains Shooting School and Mullenscote Gundogs, Highly Commended in the Traditional Business category, 2008)

 

Hi Sarah and Jill,  Many thanks to you and everyone at the Countryside Alliance, for a lovely day spent on the terrace of The House of Lords. We were thrilled to bits with our award, and it is already making a difference to sales, as people are coming in to say well done and to take a look at what we have to offer. Trade is up signifigantly!!  Sorry to have taken so long to say THANKYOU, we do mean it.  Hope to see you again before too long, Jenny and Teifi, Llwynhelyg Farm Shop. PS thanks to Rachel too, as she has helped with the publicity in the local press. (Jenny and Teifi, serial Welsh winners and in 2008 Highly Commended at Brit level for Local Food).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Sarah

We have just arrived back down to earth following our wonderful day hosted by yourselves at The House of Lords.  Thank you so very much for accommodating the whole family, everyone had such a wonderful experience we are busy thinking of our entry for next year!!

Thank you very much again - and how clever you are to be able to order such wonderful weather as well, great organisation - Well done!

With warmest regards
Sue (Sue Stevenson Harrop Fold Farm, North West Local Food Award winners 2008 )

We're still pinching ourselves to have the accolade-thanks! (Mark and Mary Williams of Rowlestone Court, Rural Enterprise winners in the West Midlands in 2008)

Dear Jill

May I thank you all for a great day and for the honor of being one of four in the finals of the Rural Hero Award.
Its been an experience I will never forget.
Regards
Les Wake (Secretary of the Tockwith Show and Chairman of the Federation of Yorkshire Shows, shortlisted as a Rural Hero of 2008)

 

 

 

 

....just a quick note to say thank you all so much for a great day at the house of lords.  We all had a great day and the weather was perfect for the drinks on the terrace!  The Awards have been real focus for all of us at Trussells, customers as well.
We met so many interesting people at the awards, they were a great credit to all of you at Alliance so a big thank you and good luck foor 2009.
Paul (Elleston, owner of Trussells Butchers in Knebworth, winners of the Eastern Regional Traditional Business Award of 2008)

Hi Jill,
I thought I'd let you know that I did an interview with KMFM, and Kent Radio, which seemed to be broadcast in news items throughout the day yesterday much to the delight of our customers. So whatever happens next, the publicity for the shop has already been great. Thanks!
best wishes
David (David Richards, Appledore Village Store, the South East's Village Shop winner in 2007)

 

Dear Jill

.......it's always a pleasure to write about people who are so clearly committed to what they do. More power to their elbow - and yours!

Best wishes
Christopher (Christopher Middleton, who has written features on the Awards for the Daily Telegraph)

Dear Countryside Alliance,

A rather belated thank you for your contribution in helping us to achieve success in the latest Rural Retailer competition. We are all still stunned that such a tiny little shop in the depths of the Kent countryside should yet again have done so well. As you can imagine my Dad feels especially proud as he has lived and worked with the business for over 80 years – that must be some kind of a record!

As a result we had some very good publicity prior to Xmas when we won the regional heat and again when the free range chicken issue was brought to the front of everyone’s minds by the celebrity chefs. Being a recognised supporter of local free range produce did us a lot of good.

Once again thanks for all your support – the competition has really helped to keep small shopkeepers like ourselves in the forefront of people’s minds, not to mention recognising all that is good and worthwhile about rural life.

We look forward to seeing you again if you are ever in our area,
Kind regards
Alison (Church of SW Doughty butchers in Kent, serial winners of the traditional award in the South East)

 

Dear Jill,

I don't normally work on Saturdays but had to come in today as I was too excited to stay at home!  Also I had to bring the champagne in didn't I?

We are beside ourselves here and finding it hard to concentrate on work.  The phone has already been ringing all morning with people asking for brochures or just calling to congratulate us, which is really nice.

I wanted to write and thank you for everything, we can't quite believe we've been chosen.  It's not every day you get  your picture in the Daily Telegraph is it?

Thanks once again.
Kind regards,
Joyce (at Alexander James of Pendlebury, outfitters based in Greater Manchester and winners of the Traditional title in 2006)

We cannot believe the difference this (the competition) has made in the number of new customers to the shop over the past 3 months, which has boosted our winter takings and also created a ‘feelgood factor’ amongst our customers. Jenny & Teifi Davies, Llwynhelyg Farm Shop. South Wales winners 2005

 

 

 

Since the publicity surrounding the awards kicked off, we’ve had about 30% increase in turnover,which is fantastic for not only our business, it is great news for our producers. I think on average we’ve picked up about 200 new customers per week as a direct result of the awards.
Andrew Loftus, Weeton’s of Harrogate, Best Rural Retailer of 2005