It is time once again to celebrate Yorkshire’s rural heroes. The 2010 Yorkshire Rural Awards organised by Dalesman and backed by leading business people and community groups across the county, will be presented in May to honour the men and women who have made their mark on the Yorkshire countryside over the last twelve months.

The prestigious annual awards, now in their fourth year, recognise outstanding achievements across a variety of sectors. They include accolades for environmental projects, business, farming and food and drink producers as well as restoring some of the county’s important rural buildings.

Highlight of the awards ceremony to be held at the Pavilions of Harrogate at the Great Yorkshire Showground on May 13, is the moment when the Yorkshireman or Woman of the year is finally revealed. Previous winners have been television gardener and proud son of Ilkley Alan Titchmarsh, supermarket boss Sir Ken Morrision and Yorkshire artist Ashley Jackson. But before any of this can happen, the organisers need help to find worthy recipients and are asking as many people as possible to nominate selections for the judges to consider.

Chairman of the judges Robert Flanagan says: “The Yorkshire Rural Awards is the only broad-ranging family of awards dedicated to the Yorkshire countryside and have never been more important now when the local economy is under such great pressure from global financial conditions.

“Farm income remain under a strain and no sector is immune from the financial downturn but there are opportunities as well as challenges and this is everyone’s chance to recognise what is being achieved through imaginative diversification, top quality food production, finding inspired new uses for redundant buildings and by bringing new jobs and prosperity to our villages.

“But at the heart of all the categories are people – individuals with flair and energy, drive and enthusiasm and yes, sometimes just good old-fashioned bloody-mindedness; people who have spotted something that needed doing, got stuck in and just got on with it. Yorkshire is full of such people and their efforts should not be taken for granted or overlooked.”

The host of this year’s awards will be TV presenter, countryside commentator and proud Yorkshireman, John Craven.

People can make as many nominations as they want in as many categories as they wish. They can even nominate themselves. Forms can be obtained from Linda McFadzean, Dalesman by calling 01756 701381 or completed online at www.yorkshireruralawards.co.uk forms can also be obtained from Tourist Information Centres.

The Awards

Yorkshireman/Woman of the Year sponsored by Skipton Building Society

Food and Drink Producer of the Year Award sponsored by Yorkshire Forward

Green Business Award sponsored by Yorkshire Forward

Entrepreneur of the Year Award sponsored by Clarion Solicitors LLP

Environmental Project of the Year Award sponsored by Northern Gas Networks

Farm Business Award sponsored by Business Link

Restoration Award sponsored by Welcome To Yorkshire

Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Dalesman