Best Kept Village and Community Awards

This September we attended the 2025 Best Kept Village and Community Awards for a night filled with inspiration and community spirit. The night celebrated all the passion and dedication of communities in Staffordshire at the Moat Hotel, Stafford.

We organised this years Living Countryside Awards, which forms one part of the BKVC competition, inviting Staffordshire Communities to enter the following 4 categories:

Inspiring Groups

This award recognises groups leading on environmental issues.

Trailblazer Award

This award would recognise individuals who are going the extra mile to protect their local countryside.

Made in Rural Staffordshire Award

This category celebrates local businesses who provide local produce, alcohol, crafts and everything in between, who add value to our local economy and make the county so unique and varied.

Countryside on Camera Award

This category celebrates the beauty of the Staffordshire countryside and wildlife through photo entries.

We were honoured to announce our winners in September after many weeks of careful deliberation…

Inspiring Groups Winner: Ipstones

We were impressed by their dedication to monitoring and enhancing biodiversity in their local area, with particular enthusiasm on planting wildflowers and an orchard, as well as working with the community to promote and protect wildlife. 

Trailblazer Award Winner: Keri Lloyd, Bilbrook and Wendy Walker, Alrewas

We awarded two winners in this category as we were impressed by both entries. Keri showcased a great passion for their local community and wildlife by creating a woodland, through tree planting, campaigning for tree protection and speaking on pesticide advocacy. Wendy showed great dedication through her campaign to remove impact and threat of local gravel quarrying.

Made in Rural Staffordshire Award Winner: Ryman’s Farm, Wall.

Ryman’s Farm showcased a variety of examples of supporting Staffordshire business through local products, services and community initiatives. Judges especially liked their annual pumpkin smash initiative, demonstrating how local sustainability can be fun and bring the community together.

Countryside on Camera Award Winner: Martin Dowdle, Edingale

Martin’s picture of a barn owl in flight portrayed the beauty of Staffordshire’s wildlife.

We want to congratulate all the winners across the competition and all of the entrants – this event truly summarises the beauty of Staffordshire’s community and countryside. We look forward to the 2026 Best Kept Village and Community Awards.