Awards for green Peak District businesses

Businesses which support their local community, economy and environment were honoured in a Peak District awards ceremony and networking event.

Environmental Quality Mark (EQM) awards were presented by the Peak District National Park Authority to 12 companies in the ceremony at Chatsworth Stables Courtyard.

EQM awards recognise businesses which support their local economy, work to reduce their environmental impact, play an active role in their local community and help celebrate, conserve and enhance the National Park.

Three EQM Special Awards were also presented to companies considered to have made an outstanding contribution to the scheme. The charity Accessible Derbyshire chose Chatsworth and Hoe Grange Holidays in Brassington for awards in recognition of the welcome they offer guests with disabilities. The third award recognised the collaboration of Matlock Meadows Ice Cream Parlour and Kitchen Garden Flowers & Produce (Peak Organics). Matlock Meadows provided land for Kitchen Garden Flowers & Produce to grow their flowers and vegetables after they lost their previous site.

The event was supported by Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire as part of their European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Growing and Developing the Visitor Economy within Derbyshire project.

Lindsay Rae, deputy director of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire said: “We were delighted to be able to support this great networking and awards event. The EQM award holders are an exemplar of sharing best practice and of supporting and working with other award-holding businesses.  The evening was a wonderful opportunity to recognise the fantastic work that these businesses do to safeguard the Peak District and also improve their business’ bottom line.”

The event was organised by the Environmental Quality Mark Community Interest Company, which runs the scheme on behalf of the Peak District National Park Authority. The awards dinner showcased food produced by EQM holders.

EQM CIC director, Faith Johnson, said: “We wanted to show off all the wonderful food that award holders produce and the Chatsworth catering team were very supportive of our vision. Award holders Birchover Brewery, Blueberry Café, Hope Valley Ice Cream and Kitchen Garden Flowers & Produce were happy to donate their wonderful produce and Chatsworth, Weathericks Holiday Cottages and East Peak Countryside Associates all sponsored items from the menu.”

Awards were presented by Cllr Lesley Roberts, chair of the Peak District National Park Authority, and Lindsay Rae, to:

Accommodation businesses
Hargate Hall Ltd, Buxton
Little Owl Barn and Curlew Cottage, Reapsmoor
Upper Hurst Farm, Hartinton
Weathericks and Bradstone, Wirksworth

Artists & makers
The Bower Wirks, Wirksworth

Food producers and food service providers
The Anglers Rest, Bamford
Blueberry Café, Castleton
Hartington Cheese & Wine Co Ltd, Hartington
Red Lion Inn, Birchover

Land management businesses
Land Maintenance Limited, Hathersage

Tourism and recreation businesses
Beyond the Edge, Sheffield
Chatsworth Estate, Bakewell