Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Champions’ Reception of the Countryside Alliance Awards at the House of Lords, where I was delighted to celebrate with Simon Osborne and Dale Shipman of the Blagdon Farm Shop. The shop was named as winner of the Game Champion Award, in recognition of the fantastic local game they provide. The Blagdon Farm Shop is the only independent game processor in Northumberland and they are currently creating a bird processing plant. With nine local people stalking for them, providing them with venison and birds from seven shoots, this is a great local business and it is fantastic to see the shop recognised at a national level. Congratulations to everyone at Blagdon Farm Shop.
The Countryside Alliance Awards, nicknamed the ‘Rural Oscars’, were set up to honour the skills and produce, tradition, enterprise and the people who go the extra mile for their communities.