TRADITIONALLY a symbol of luck and prosperity, hops have certainly proved very fruitful for Amanda Barker.

Especially now she's been nominated for the Country Living Most Enterprising Rural Woman.

Mrs Barker is in the running for the award that recognises women who have turned their hand to alternative on-farm or innovative country enterprises.

The nomination is based on the work of her family run business Essentially Hops, based in Bekesbourne, near Canterbury, which produces fresh and dried garlands made from hops and flowers.

It all came about when Mrs Barker's parents, who had grown hops commercially, discontinued production in 1989. "I had returned from University and world travel," said Mrs Barker, "I was looking for work and helped on the farm to support myself.

"My mother persuaded my father to leave an acre of hops for sentimental value and I thought 'If I like hops in my kitchen, then other people must too'."

Essentially Hops won a business plan competition which was all the encouragement needed. It now boasts 20 acres of flowers and five of hops, with more planned. The company employs a number of local people in growing, drying, manufacturing and selling the product, which sells to the public, trade, wholesalers and breweries.