My full-time job is not that of blogging but an independent PR & marketing practitioner. It's a role I've undertaken on a freelance basis for over seven years now, with clients, primarily in the tourism and leisure sector right across North East England. One of my first clients was Hall Hill Farm in County Durham, and their 26-year-old shepherd is currently nominated for a national Tourism Superstar Award.
If you feel like voting for him there is still time, voting closes in the VisitEngland competition on March 20 via The Mirror newspaper website.
Vote for Hall Hill Farm as Tourism Superstar Voting Draws To A Close
Hall Hill Farm is still my client and I've watched and supported the family business develop and grow over the past seven years. 2017 was a record-breaking year for the popular Durham farm after increasing its visitor numbers by 15%. The award-winning Hall Hill Farm, a family-run tourist attraction, which has been providing children and families with an educational and fun day out for over 35 years, were also recent winners of the Silver Award in the 2017 North East England Tourism Awards for Best Small Visitor Attraction, and in addition Richard was named as The Northern Young Farmer of the Year and the Visit County Durham Tourism Superstar, paving the way for this national nomination.
Over the years at Hall Hill Farm they've introduced a new play barn, an innovative Lamb-Cam and Lambing Live events, built their own crazy golf, had a goat star in the trailer for a popular video game called 'Goar Simulator' and introduced Sheep Racing. Oh, and during the last Olympics, a sheep did the shot-put. I kid you not!
All this innovation and drive to build his families business as well as ensuring that all visitors have a great and memorable day out has led to his nomination for this prestigious national award.
And a final push for votes for Richard is now underway as voting in a national Tourism Superstar competition draws to an end. Richard is one of 10 finalists across the country to have made the coveted shortlist for VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar 2018 award.
Voting closes at midnight on Tuesday March 20, 2018, with the winner being announced during English Tourism Week (17-25 March).
“I’d like to thank everyone who has voted for me so far,” said Richard. “I was very surprised but delighted to win Durham Tourism Superstar last year and to be named a finalist in the VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar Award 2018 has been such an amazing honour.
“It’s great when a small family run attraction like ours gains recognition, and I’m really grateful for all the support I have received already from my family, the Hall Hill Team, and our visitors. I would like to thank everyone who votes, and encourage everyone to visit Durham and Hall Hill Farm. It is such a fun day out for all the family.”
Popular bloggers and VisitEngland ambassadors ‘Twins That Travel’ recently visited the farm, and after meeting Richard said, “Richard Darlington, you are a true tourism superstar. It seems, is not only a tourism superstar – patching up kids’ knees, birthing lambs and saving his family business whilst studying – but is also an unwitting champion of what we have spent the last year learning to love: the micro-adventure.”
The competition, launched in 2012, is run by VisitEngland and supported by The Daily Mirror. Shortlisted candidates need the public’s votes to win and be crowned Tourism Superstar 2018.
VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar initiative recognises the heroes within the industry who far exceed the call of duty to ensure visitors have the most amazing experience.
If you feel like voting for Richard there is still time, voting closes in the VisitEngland competition on March 20 via The Mirror newspaper website.
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