Over the last three years the CLA has been hugely successful in promoting its Just Ask Campaign. It wants people to ask where the food on their plate comes from whenever they're out for a meal - whether in a hotel, restaurant, pub or fast food outlet. The initiative is designed to increase public awareness of the origin of food to enable people to make an informed choice about the food they eat. The rural watchdog says it’s vital that the importance of local food is recognised. Tim Barnes-Clay reports: CLICK HERE

The Campaign for the Farmed Environment has been launched in Warwickshire. The initiative aims to encourage farmers and land managers to take steps to protect resources such as soil and water and boost wildlife. A variety of organisations including the Country Land and Business Association, and the National Farmers’ Union are working in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency to promote CFE. Tim Barnes-Clay reports: CLICK HERE

The CLA Game Fair 2010 will be held at Ragley Hall, near Alcester, Warwickshire from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 July 2010. Ragley Hall is a new and exciting venue for the CLA Game Fair, superbly located adjacent to the M40, M5, M6 and M42 motorways offering a well positioned venue for visitors from all parts of the country. As well as nearly 1,000 exhibitors, in areas such as Fisherman’s Village, Gamekeeper’s/Estate Management Row, the Regional Food Village and Elegant Gardens, there will be various show spaces hosting demonstrations (cookery, fishing and more), displays (from falconry to ferret racing), debates and discussions, competitions, workshops and opportunities to ’Have a Go’. CLICK HERE

A Lincolnshire member of The Country Land and Business Association has reached the regional finals for the prestigious Britain's Bangers Competition in aid of British Sausage Week. Uncle Henry's Farm Shop and Café in Gainsborough will be competing against one other butcher for the title of Regional Finalist in Nottingham. The final, run by the British Sausage Appreciation Society, will entail a cook off between Uncle Henry's and the other competitor. To reach the finals, entrant's sausages were met by a panel of judges who had the tough job in deciding which sausages were the most magical. CLICK HERE

Natural England has unveiled the audit in line with proposals in the Marine and Coastal Access Bill. Rural membership body, CLA East Midlands says it has had serious reservations about the proposed path in areas like Lincolnshire since the idea was first mooted, - its main concerns being for private property-owners and businesses who could be adversely affected. The 36,000 member organisation also says the Natural England report has ignored the significant amount of access coastal landowners provide on a voluntary basis. And as for the remaining coastline, the CLA says there are often good reasons why public access is not possible, for instance the presence of military bases or ports or overriding nature conservation concerns. The rural watchdog pledges to continue to engage with Natural England on the implementation of the coastal access proposals in the Marine and Coastal Access Bill, and says it's pleased that the Government has accepted the need for landowners to have a right of appeal. CLICK HERE

Rural economy watchdog, the CLA, says more country estates should open their gates to TV and film crews to help fight the economic down-turn. The call comes as CLA member Rupert Acton welcomes cameras back to his Shropshire estate following the success of the BBC2 'Victorian Farm' series. Three more 60 minute programmes are to be made looking at the lives of 19th century farmers, and will be broadcast on BBC TV over Christmas. Filmed in and around the Acton Scott Estate in Shropshire, 'Victorian Farm' saw how a small farm could be run for one year using 19th century tools and techniques.  Recent film location examples include Stokesay Court in Shropshire, which was used as the primary location for 'Atonement' and Ragley Hall, Warwickshire, a popular location for film and television productions including 'Doctor Who' and 'The Scarlet Pimpernel'."The rural business watchdog says it believes that by encouraging Midlanders to open their country homes to filming, it will promote tourism which will give a much needed shot in the arm to the rural economy. CLICK HERE

Ride Welland is the brand name of the Welland Equestrian Tourism & Leisure Project. The aim of the project is to promote the Welland area as a destination of choice in England for equestrian tourism and leisure. To achieve this aim, ride Welland is working to develop and integrate equestrianism with leisure and tourism opportunities. New off-road Toll Rides have been opened and it is working on opening more in conjunction with existing bridleways to form an extensive web of riding networks. It runs training events aimed at equestrian and tourism businesses to enhance their skills so they can to deliver consistently excellent goods and services to Welland visitors and residents. The Welland area will be widely marketed to promote awareness of its facilities and services to equestrians worldwide. Tim Barnes-Clay reports: CLICK HERE

Rural watchdog body, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is fighting to stamp out broadband "not-spots" that are frustrating rural users and crippling local businesses. Throughout parts of the West Midlands there is growing anger that people cannot run businesses, access information, or keep in contact with friends over the web because they live in areas where broadband service is poor or not available.Now the CLA is gathering evidence of "not-spot" areas with broadband problems for its campaign for better broadband coverage. This comes as a survey suggested three million UK homes, including rural and some suburban homes, have insufficient broadband speeds of less than two megabits per second (2Mbps) CLICK HERE