A RURAL business could cap a memorable first year’s trading by claiming a clutch of awards.

Cross Lanes Organic Farm, near Barnard Castle, has already bagged a star in the Guild of Fine Food’s Great Taste Awards and received recognition in the Soil Association’s Organic Food Awards.

On Tuesday it won the coveted “outstanding” accolade in the County Durham Environment Awards, only given at the discretion of judges when they feel an entry has gone over and above the expected criteria.

Judge Wayne Harris, executive director for property and development at living housing, said: “We’re really pleased to recognise Cross Lanes Organic Farm, which displays an outstanding combination of new and traditional building techniques, using a wide variety of climate change migration measures.

“The construction process and subsequent operation of the business have adhered to ethical principles.”

In November, at the BBC’s Good Food Live show in Birmingham’s NEC, Cross Lanes is in the running for a Food and Farm award after being nominated by a satisfied customer.

Finally, the business has been named as a finalist in the Farm Retail Awards organised by FARMA, the National Farmers’ Retail and Markets Association, with nominations in two categories – best farm retail newcomer and environmental farm retailer of the year.

Owner Peter Coverdale said the business, which includes a farm shop and cafe, will celebrate its first anniversary on October 27.

He said: “We had planned it for a few years and finally got it going. Work started in February last year. There was formerly an intensive pig and poultry unit which was completely flattened.

“It was flat out while the building work was going on, as we managed it, and then it was straight into everything to do with running a business.”

Shop manager Deborah Hare said the team was thrilled that a customer had nominated them in the Food and Farm awards.

A team of judges will now visit Cross Lanes prior to the announcement of the winner in Birmingham.