News & Features

Beadlam Grange Farm Shop and Tea Room near Helmsley has won three national awards in two weeks. They were awarded the Countryside Alliance local food award in a ceremony at the House of Lords.

It was also named UK's best new farm shop and environmental farm retailers of the year at the National Farmers' Retail and Markets Association (FARMA) Awards in which it was also a finalist in four other categories.

The business was opened on their working farm to help their children have a future in the industry. The FARMA judges described them as having "an inspirational approach to retailing that keeps the family farm at its heart".

The shop and cafe stock the farm's own lamb, mutton and beef, along with locally produced pork, poultry and game, seasonal fruit, vegetables, eggs, milk and bread.

On Fridays a local fishmonger sets up shop and fish is on the menu of home made meals.

Environmental commitment comes from planting trees and hedgerows, creating a wildlife pond and a borehole for irrigation. They also grow miscanthus, a perennial grass, for Drax power station and have their own woodchip burner to supply heating for the shop and cafe, as well as making compost for Ryedale District Council from the area's green waste.

The family's total commitment to local produce and the surrounding community was praised by the Countryside Alliance judges. The Rookes also host Young Farmers' Club parties, craft fairs and local school days.

Mark Rooke said: It's a major achievement and we're really pleased it shows we are going in the right direction. The farm shop has only been open two and a half years."

Visit Beadlam Grange website:
http://www.beadlamgrange.co.uk/