Countryside Champions

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. 

Ageing Well in Prudhoe

Last week I finally held my Ageing Well Spring Information Fair in Prudhoe, after having had to postpone the event in March due to the bad weather. The Fair was organised with the help of Prudhoe councillors Gordon Stewart and Ken Stow and Bywell councillor Karen Quinn, and was attended by a huge range of local community groups, charities and businesses that help or serve older people, all on hand to offer advice and guidance to local residents. We had a fantastic morning in Prudhoe and it was great to see that the event was such a success. I am already looking forward to making next year’s Fair even bigger and better. Thank you to everyone who attended!

Cheers!

Back in the Spring I dropped in at Dipton Mill Inn to meet owner Mark Brooker. I had a look around both the Pub and the brilliant Hexhamshire Brewery which Mark runs on site. Dipton Mill is a family owned and run pub with incredible history- the original building dates from around 1608 and was built as a corn mill. The Hexhamshire Brewery was started by the Brooker family more than 20 years ago to supply beer to both the Dipton Mill and other pubs in the North East. A great local country pub and business- I certainly recommend it!

http://diptonmill.co.uk