A VINEYARD, goats, a water mill and an alcoholic-drinks family business centred around hedgerows are among projects that have won through to the finals of this year’s Yorkshire Rural Awards.

Several North and East Yorkshire organisations are hoping to win recognition in the annual scheme which rewards enterprise and hard work of individuals, groups and businesses in the county’s fields, hills and moors. Chairman of the judges, Robert Flanagan, who is managing director of Country Publications, said “This year’s awards attracted more nominations than ever before and as usual the quality of entries was of the highest calibre. The judges had some extremely difficult choices to make and it goes to prove that there are a lot of people working very hard to keep our rural economy thriving.”

Ryedale Vineyards, is nominated for the food and drink producer of the year award. It manages ten acres of vines in Westow, near Malton, has the largest vineyard in northern England and started producing wine in 2008. It is hoping to raise production to 20,000 bottles by 2015.

It will be competing against Sloe Motion, a family business from Barton-le-Willows, near York. The company produces sloe gin, vodka, brandy, whisky, truffles and chutney using berries from the wildflower borders it planted along hedgerows to provide protection and food for wildlife.

Howsham Mill, on an island in the River Derwent in Howsham, is a restored mill and waterwheel dating back to 1755 now used as an education resource and community centre.

It will be competing in the restoration award section against How Hill Holiday Cottages in the grounds of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal near Ripon. The cottages were dilapidated eighteenth century farm buildings which were renovated and transformed for use by holidaymakers.

St Helen’s Farm, at Seaton Ross, East Yorkshire, is a finalist in the farm business award section. It supplies goat milk to more than 2,000 supermarkets and grows organic feed for the 4,000 goats that produce the milk.

Tophill Low nature reserve between Beverley and Driffield is a finalist in the environmental project of the year section.

The winners will be announced at Harrogate Pavilions on May 13.