The awards honoured significant contributions to the countryside.

And the winners are…

Local Food Award: Newlyns Farm, Hook, Hampshire. “A family run farm, farm shop, cookery school, community hub and charitable fundraiser, Newlyns is straight out of the top drawer and Hampshire is lucky to have it.

"The commitment to top quality produce is total, and it's impossible to list how much this family does for farming and for its community, and all with a great sense of enjoyment, which is as it should be.”

Post Office/Village Shop Award: Morgan's Newsagents and Post Office, Llangadog, Carmarthenshire. “As well as fighting for the survival of the Post Office and operating an outstanding village shop Win Morgan and husband Richard are the centre of this isolated community, drawing people of all ages together with their great warmth.

"This award is as much for the personalities behind the counter as for the vital services they provide.”

Traditional Business Award: Wellington Carriage Company, Telford, Shropshire. “Philip Holder's 40-year-old business centres around building bespoke carriages out of English produce for his clients.

"Philip is a Master Wheelwright and a Yeoman to the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights as well as a very experienced coachman. There can be few more traditional businesses than this – and this quiet, talented and humble man deserves recognition.”

Rural Enterprise Award: Loch Visions, Kilchrenan, Argyll. “Philip Price has shown a true enterprising spirit by setting up a photography business in an isolated part of the beautiful Scottish countryside.

"Philip is supporting the local environment and community by employing local people and serving local produce, and he is also unlocking the full tourist potential for the area by enabling tourists to experience the countryside close up.”

Rural Hero Award: Ian Pigott. “Hertfordshire-based Ian dreamed up Open Farm Sunday, a national event that opens the countryside up to a whole new audience and promotes farming in an accessible way.

"Over 400 farms held events on the third annual Farm Sunday in June 2008, and Ian's simple idea of getting farmers to ‘recognise the importance and significance of reconnecting with the consumer' has fast become a summer staple.”

Countryside Alliance Political Awards

The Grassroots Award for community campaigning: Cllr Heather Kidd, South Shropshire District Council. “This Liberal Democrat Councillor is honoured for her extensive work locally and nationally for rural housing.

"She has worked for the Rural Housing Commission and on all recent national reviews. She has also campaigned extensively on rural bus services, saving post offices and small rural schools.”

The Westminster Award for bringing the countryside to Parliament: Bill Wiggin, MP for Leominster. “Bill has a phenomenal track-record of serving the countryside through his work at Westminster.

"As a constituency MP and breeder of Hereford cattle, Bill has worked tirelessly on behalf of his constituents especially those who were affected by foot-and-mouth and now bovine TB.”

The Rural Vision Award: Lord Hanningfield: “As Leader of Essex County Council, Lord Hanningfield has done much to highlight and safeguard the future of Essex's rural communities.

"His support during the foot-and-mouth crisis in 2001 and subsequent work on the Year of Food and Farming, his determination that rural Essex will not be concreted over and that it will retain a Post Office network and his enthusiasm for Essex's rural communities and their futures make him a worthy winner.”