Park Hill Farm in running for rural Oscar award

Farm bosses near Market Drayton are celebrating after edging closer to an enterprise award as part of a ceremony dubbed the 'rural Oscars'.

Park Hill Farm in Hales, between Loggerheads and Market Drayton, has been voted into the enterprise category of the Countryside Alliance Awards West Midlands regional finals. The farm, which is run by the Pimlott family, is up against three others in the race to be crowned the regional winner.

The family, which sells beef and pork products at farmers' markets and through its own farm shop, is now one step closer to an award following a visit by judges from the Countryside Alliance, a rural campaign group.

The farm rears pedigree south Devon cattle and Oxford sandy and black pigs. It has recently diversified to become an education centre for groups and schools.

Patsy Pimlott, who farms with her husband John, said: "This is such an honour, and we are so delighted that our customers have thought so highly of the meat we produce and the educational facilities that we offer.

"We were delighted to receive an e-mail last week, asking if they could come and discuss what we do here. These awards are to reward all those unsung heroes who keep the countryside alive and, in our case, share our home and farm with many people each year.

"To have got this far, is absolutely amazing and has made us so very excited. We can't quite believe it is happening to us. We would just wish to thank everyone who has voted for us."

Now in their seventh year, the awards are for unsung country heroes and are often referred to as the rural Oscars.

Over the next few weeks the judges are visiting finalists so they can select a finalist from each region, and these will go forward to the final at the House of Lords in March.

For details, call (01630) 652178.