New research released by The Countryside Alliance Foundation – the charitable arm of the Countryside Alliance – has today revealed the extent to which Local Education Authorities (LEAs) in Britain are investing in local produce and the demand from the general public for greater public sector investment in British producers.

Strict government regulations mean that British farmers produce food to some of the highest hygiene, nutritional and welfare standards in the world. Despite the Government imposing these high standards to improve the quality of British food, The Countryside Alliance Foundation believes that there is not enough of a concerted effort to ensure a good-sized proportion of the one billion pounds of taxpayer money spent in the public sector each year goes on buying high-quality British food.

Freedom of Information requests to all LEAs in Britain have revealed that over two-thirds of schools do not track the origins of the food they are buying for their pupils. Of those that did, we were encouraged to see that 60 per cent of the produce being procured is coming from Britain.

But that figure does not show the real picture for those LEA’s in the south east, with two LEA’s, Surrey and Reading reporting less than 34% of British food procured in 2009-10. There are some positives with the majority of LEA’s in London coming out at the top of the table.

At present schools are not required to prioritise the purchasing of British food for school meals. The Countryside Alliance Foundation believes that a procurement programme in schools that focuses on buying British food will place sustainable development right at the heart of food procurement; providing better quality meals for school children, thereby improving their health; provide benefits to farmers and the local economy, and greater environmental sustainability. We believe that this can also all be achieved within the constraints of public sector procurement rules and tight budgets.

For the full report “Encouraging Schools to Buy British” with a full breakdown of the figures by Local Education Authority and polling data click here. 

If your school is a champion of British food then please do contact me as we would like to know. Contact me on michelle-nudds@countryside-alliance.org

Another reminder that the Countryside Alliance 2011 Christmas card range is available online; a selection of eight different sporting designs by celebrated artists from across the country. The cards are available from our refreshed online shop at www.thecountrysideshop.com

We also have a foxhound note card twin pack, the 2012 wall calendar and our popular 'Love the Countryside' Mugs and tea-towels which make perfect stocking fillers for all Countryside Alliance supporters.

With thoughts now turning to Christmas, it is a great time to order this year's cards and we are confident that everyone who loves the countryside will love this selection. Buying your Christmas cards from the Countryside Alliance will benefit our vital work whilst ensuring that everyone on your Christmas card list can enjoy some beautiful sporting art.

Plus don’t forget to look at our “Shop for the Countryside” web pages for those gifts that you want to buy on line and at the same time supporting The Countryside Alliance Foundation.

Stock up for Christmas by visiting our online shop today!

The South East’s finalists have been announced in the 2011 Countryside Alliance Awards, with top local businesses vying for one of four regional titles and the chance of national acclaim.

The Countryside Alliance Awards, nicknamed the ‘Rural Oscars’, are now in their seventh year of celebrating the characters, skills, traditions and enterprise of the countryside through the people who work so hard to make it tick. Each finalist has received numerous nominations from adoring customers and supporters and hopes to go all the way to the Parliamentary final next March. The 2011 South East finalists are:

Food category finalists

• Foxbury Farm Shop, Brize Norton, Oxfordshire 01993 867385 www.foxburyfarm.co.uk
• Orchard Farm Shop, Hurst Green, Etchingham, East Sussex 01580 860501
• The Butchers Hall at The Parrot, Forest Green, Nr Dorking, Surrey 01306 621188 www.theparrot.co.uk 

Village Shop/ Post Office category finalists

• Kirdford Village Store, Kirdford, West Sussex, 01403 820815, www.kirdfordvillagestores.com
• Limpsfield Village Store, Limpsfield, Surrey, 01883 713 306
• Premier Store, High Halstow, Rochester, Kent 01634 254561

Enterprise category finalists

• Barn Galleries of Henley on Thames, Aston, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, 01491 577786 www.barngalleries.com
• Priory Farm, South Nutfield, Surrey 01737 823304 www.prioryfarm.co.uk 
• The Medicine Garden, Cobham, Surrey 01932 589536 www.themedicinegarden.com

Butcher category finalists

• John Murray and Son, Loxwood, Billingshurst, West Sussex, 01403 752859
• Outwood Butchers, Outwood, Surrey 01342 842058 http://outwoodbutchers.co.uk/Call_in.html
• Vicars Game, Ashampstead, Newbury, Berkshire 01635 579662 www.vicarsgame.co.uk/ 

Countryside Alliance South East Regional Director Michelle Nudds commented: “These businesses represent the very best of the North West’s produce, enterprise and community spirit and I congratulate the finalists on getting this far in what is an increasingly competitive Awards scheme. I am really looking forward to getting out and meeting the people behind each business and speaking to them about their valued contribution to our economy and communities.”

• Regional judging will now take place. The Awards run across 10 regions.
• Regional winners will be announced in January. They will then go forward to the Grand Final which will be held at Parliament on 7th March 2012. At the Grand Final, overall Champions will be announced.
• Find out more about the Awards at www.countrysideallianceawards.org.uk 

My favorite Pheasant recipe for the month of November is “Pheasant in Sour Cream” from our Game to Eat website.

The Show will be held at Olympia from 13th-19th December. This year’s London International Horse show has all the usual excitement and entertainment we have come to expect, but new for this year will be “Extreme Driving”. This indoor carriage driving competition is about speed, accuracy and immense skill. The show starts on Tuesday 13th with the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Qualifier and ending on Monday 19th with the The Olympia Grand Prix – something for everyone!

Ticket Information call the box office on 0871 230 5580 or visit the web site at www.olympiahorseshow.com

If you would like your event listed in my next e-route – send date, location and contact details for the event to michelle-nudds@countryside-alliance.org

Dec 25th – Boxing Day Hunts, Times and Locations will be published in late December.

UK Contacts:
Countryside Alliance: Website
info@countryside-alliance.org www.countryside-alliance.org.uk 

PLEASE ENCOURAGE ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND CONTACTS TO REGISTER FOR OUR GRASS E-ROUTE EMAIL SYSTEM.

The service is free and provides subscribers with the latest news on countryside issues direct to their desktop or email phone. By registering direct, subscribers receive all UK messages and other information appropriate to their local area. Registration is simple. Send an email to news@countryside-alliance.org and include "register South East" in the subject box. To unsubscribe from Alliance grass e-route at any time, simply send an email to news@countryside-alliance.org and include "Unsubscribe" in the body of the email.