The 2010 Countryside Alliance Awards, nicknamed "The Rural Oscars", have opened to nominations. The Awards are the Countryside Alliance's annual celebration of rural skills, produce, heritage and enterprise through the people who work so hard to make our countryside flourish. We have enough awards for produce, but what about the characters behind the business?

The Awards are public nomination led and we welcome tales told in as much detail as possible about the colour, eccentricity and British grit and determination of rural people, whether they are the local Post Mistress or butcher, farmer, shop-keeper, teacher, nurse or gamekeeper. We have introduced a 15 years and under Rural Hero category this year, sponsored by Hunter Boot, enabling us to celebrate the contribution being made by youngsters towards country life.