The Countryside Alliance Awards are above all a celebration of rural Britain. Over four categories: local food; village shop/ Post Office; traditional business and enterprise, we honour the very best that our countryside has to offer, and the people putting in the hard work. After a week spent in limbo poring over thousands of nominations and choosing 2009's regional finalists I can say that all the debate, agonising and gallons of tea that fuelled the process has been worth it. The regional finalists have been selected, those who have reached their regional final are now aware, and judging is about to commence. You can see who made the cut by selecting your region from the 2009 regional finalists list here

The calibre of rural enterprises across the Awards' categories is second to none, and we have a great diversity of different trades showcasing the best of our countryside. I have mentioned before that this appears to be the year of the pub, and in Wales especially it seems to be the year of the fishery, which is a very welcome direction for the enterprise category.

As ever those who nominate have high praise for those providing the staples of local life; our highly skilled butchers, the friendly faces in our village shops, Post Offices and farm shops. There are also some regional finalists in the running which are highly specialised (and therefore very difficult to compare!) Examples such as master saddlers and outfitters and artisan food producers who provide treats such as blue cheese, saltmarsh lamb, apple juice, oysters and smoked fish from traditional smokehouses, show that there is a thriving market for smaller businesses and a huge appetite for regional produce. Our rural businesses are at once preserving our threatened traditions and blazing an enterprising trail that will boost the rural economy and stand our communities in good stead for the future.

Judging is going to be very difficult this year. Our 2,500 nominations have been whittled down to 150, but the next stage of choosing one winner per category in each region will be even harder. I am grateful to everyone who took the time to cast a nomination, and am highly aware that each regional finalist represents many supporters' hopes. I will be judging the North West this year, with pubs, butchers, farm shops and even a tea-shop and gallery created from a converted school on offer. I can't wait to get on the road and meet some great characters. I will report back to you from the judging trail - if I thought shortlisting was hard I have a feeling it won't be getting any easier from here on in.

Jill Grieve is the Countryside Alliance's Head of Communications based in the London office and is also a co-Director of the Countryside Alliance Awards