Acton Scott Farm highly commended at museum ‘Oscars’

Acton Scott Historic Working Farm, near Church Stretton, has been “highly commended” in this year’s prestigious Museums & Heritage Awards for Excellence, the ‘Oscars’ of the museums world.

The awards ceremony was held at Church House, Westminster on Wednesday 11 May 2011.

Acton Scott Historic Working Farm was short listed for the ‘Classic Award’, open to any museum, gallery or heritage attraction that has been established for 10 years or more.

The Farm was competing against much larger organisations, including the Science Museum, London and Merseyside Maritime Museum (the eventual winners).

This award is unique in that it recognises achievement, continual improvement and on-going development over a 10-year period and the overall contribution that a museum has made to its locality.

Over the past 10 years Acton Scott Historic Working Farm has seen two major re-developments; improving facilities and infrastructure; innovative education programmes; international exchange projects and the development of ground-breaking traditional skills course programme which has attracted participants from across the United Kingdom.

These developments, together with the extensive television exposure the museum has received in recent years has transformed the museum into a major tourism asset for the county.

Michael Turner, Manager of the Farm, said:

“We are absolutely over the moon. While we knew that, among other national and international nominees such as the Science Museum and the Merseyside Maritime Museum, we stood little chance of winning, receiving this commendation is so satisfying. The team at Acton Scott Historic Working Farm have worked incredibly hard to develop and take forward all that we have to offer and this achievement recognises their efforts.”

Acton Scott Historic Working Farm is one of a number of museums run by Shropshire Council, which was represented at the awards event by Nigel Nixon, Head of the Museum Service and Councillor Steve Charmley.

Councillor Charmley said:

“Acton Scott Historic Working Farm’s profile, particularly from its recent television exposure, has helped to further establish Shropshire as a nationally-acknowledged tourism destination. This commendation gives recognition from within the museums and heritage profession of the Farm’s successes, particularly since its re-development funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, European Regional Development Fund and Shropshire Council itself.

“It is also great to see that Shropshire Council’s Museum Service has been recognised as a market leader by a national body, which also acknowledges the great work done by the team.”

Acton Scott Historic Working Farm has made a number of TV appearances over the past couple of years. Starting with the surprise hit series, Victorian Farm, the museum and visitor attraction has gone on to starring roles in Victorian Farm Christmas and Ben Fogle’s Escape in Time. The Farm has also featured on the BBC’s Countryfile, Country Tracks, Inside Out and Escape to the Country, Channel 4’s Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day, and BBC1’s ‘A Hundred Years of Us’.

Acton Scott Historic Working Farm, situated just off the A49 at Marshbrook, 3½ miles south of Church Stretton is open for the 2011 season through to 30 October.

For more details go to www.actonscottmuseum.com.