A FLINTSHIRE business has been named one of those to receive funding support.

The Royal Countryside Fund (RCF), in partnership with Forest Holidays, has revealed the recipients of their Rural Start-Up Fund's £10,000 award. This year's winners have been selected for their innovative and meaningful contributions to rural communities.

Beeches Meats is a start-up based in Holywell, that was founded by Hollie Blockley and George Sturla. Offering meat to local communities directly from their sheep farm, this farming venture provides personal deliveries while engaging customers with transparent practices.

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The enterprise invests in eco-friendly methods, such as reseeding with red clover to produce quality feed, as well as prioritising native breeds for better ecological balance. Beeches Meats plans to install a cold room and expand to farmers' markets, with a commitment to producing high-quality, sustainable meat while fostering a closer connection between consumers and rural life.

Hollie said: "We are absolutely thrilled to be recipients of this year's Rural Start-Up Fund. This support will help us to grow our business. The funding will allow us to offer a wider range of meat products and reach more customers in our local community, strengthening the bond between farm and table."

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The other award winner was named as Helme Edge Vineyard, a nascent boutique vineyard in the green belt of Meltham, West Yorkshire.

Gemma Chance, head of brand purpose at Forest Holidays said: "Seeing innovative businesses like Beeches Meats and Helme Edge Vineyard thrive is a core part of our mission that we share with the Royal Countryside Fund. The ethos of sustainable practices and community involvement exemplifies the spirit of the Rural Start-Up Fund and our partnership with the Royal Countryside Fund."

Keith Halstead, executive director of the Royal Countryside Fund, added: "The collaboration between Forest Holidays and the Royal Countryside Fund has been pivotal in bringing the Rural Start-Up Fund to fruition. We are all of us at the RCF excited to see Beeches Meats and Helme Edge Vineyard, our latest awardees, use this funding to innovate and grow, embodying the rural entrepreneurial spirit that is vital for our countryside's prosperity and resilience."