Businesses which support their local community, economy and environment were honoured at a Peak District awards ceremony and networking event.
Six new Environmental Quality Mark awards were presented to Peak District businesses which support and play an active role in their local economy, work to reduce their environmental impact and help to celebrate, conserve and enhance the Peak District National Park.
The ceremony, at Hargate Hall, Wormhill, Buxton, was organised by the Environmental Quality Mark Community Interest Company (EQM CIC), which runs the scheme on behalf of the Peak District National Park Authority. It was supported by The University of Nottingham as part of its European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) ‘Energy for Business’ energy innovation and collaboration project.
EQM CIC Director Faith Johnson said: “As a not-for-profit company, we’re hugely grateful to EQM award holders who helped us create the perfect evening. Anthony and Julie Knox offered their fantastic venue Hargate Hall to host this celebration. Wheeldon Trees Farm and Clearer Thinking both sponsored the welcome drinks and Losehill House Hotel even provided the linen for the tables.
“We wanted the awards dinner to show off the wonderful food that EQM award holders produce – and caterers Blueberry Café created a locally produced banquet of fantastic food.
“Derbyshire Wildlife Trust received their award during the evening and we were delighted to feature their conservation grazed beef in both the canapé selection and the main course.”
Kate Lemon of the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust said: “Our cattle graze our nature reserves around the Peak District and the county. They are totally grass fed, eating homemade hay in the winter, which produces meat lower in saturated fat and higher in omega-3, minerals and vitamins. And, of course, proceeds from meat sales go straight back in to our work to keep on protecting wildlife in Derbyshire.”
Kitchen Garden Flowers & Produce (Peak Organics CIC), Hope Valley Ice Cream, Chatsworth Farm Shop and Bloomers of Bakewell also contributed to the menu.
There was also a display of award-winning crafts, including handmade ceramics, natural soaps, Peak District wool products and turned wooden bowls, made from local sustainable timber.
Awards were presented by chair of the Peak District National Park Authority, Coun Andrew McCloy, to:
Accommodation businesses:
- Lockerbrook Farm Outdoor Centre, Snake Pass
- Peak District Holiday Cottage, Flagg
- Rainbows End, Blackwell-in-the-Peak
- White Peak Shepherd Huts, Tideswell
Food & drink business
- Hickbrew microbrewery, Longnor
Land management charity
- Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
