Pipers Farm is local hero at Countryside Alliance Awards

The 2012 Countryside Alliance Awards (also known as the Rural Oscars) were presented to rural businesses by Owen Paterson MP, secretary of state for Defra, at a ceremony at the Houses of Parliament last month.

The awards, now in their eighth year, are the Countryside Alliance's (http://www.countrysideallianceawards.org.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">www.countrysideallianceawards.org.uk) annual celebration of rural produce, skills, enterprise and heritage.

Speaking to more than 250 guests at the parliamentary reception, Paterson said: "Rural businesses are vital to the country's economic recovery. The Government is right behind them.

"We are backing aspiration and giving entrepreneurs the support they need to create jobs and support thriving local communities."

"The farm has been championing local food heritage and producing meat but also supporting local family farms that have been the foundations of our rural communities and landscapes for generations.

"The passion of this family is inspiring. Peter Greig taught himself to butcher and experimented over many years with different cuts. The family still experiments with different recipes and cuts and the judges were invited to stand around the frying pan with them to test the produce."

Picture (from left to right): William Greig, Henri Greig, Peter Greig and Edward Greign with Owen Paterson