2026: the future of the countryside

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Contents

Summary


The Campaign for Rural England's 2008 contribution to the debate on the future of the countryside was the publication of Towards a vision for the countryside, and an online debate forum. This includes identification of five key countryside issues that describe possible futures for people and places in 2026:


• Lifestyle and leisure: England’s countryside has blossomed into its Natural Health Service. Farm and country visits are part of the school curriculum and many more people, from a broad demography, are using and visiting the countryside.

•Life in our cities towns and villages: Three quarters of new homes created will be contained within urban areas but built on existing brownfield land. Some will be built on countryside. Smaller towns and villages will grow as a result of the revival in locally produced food and the interest in the countryside for leisure, which will also help to create more local jobs.

• Climate change and the countryside: Farmers have helped to reduce CO2 emissions by moving away from crops that require large amounts of synthetic, oil derived fertilisers. New areas of coastal wetland will be created and increased rainfall will be absorbed through better land management and technologies. Biodiverse and tranquil reservoirs will store enough water to take us through droughts.

• Food and farming: Farmers will earn part of their income from maintaining the countryside and will increasingly also generate an income from tourism. The flora and fauna which has dwindled has returned. Farmers will play their part in supplying our energy needs diversifying into bio-energy crops, growing rapeseed oil and fast growing trees for wood burning.

• Planning: A new focus of the planning system will be on increased use of the ‘countryside next door’, within a few minutes walk of where people live. Development will retain countryside character while encouraging access and recreation.


The Carnegie Commission for Rural Community Development’s 2007 report, ‘A Charter for Rural Communities’, states that rural communities should be free to raise their own taxes, elect new leaders, and plan their own futures if they are not to fall into poverty and neglect. 


However, the report also identified thriving "can-do" communities led by inspiring individuals generating employment and wealth. For example, the island of Gigha, Scotland, where the community has made itself energy-efficient, reopened its school and attracted nearly 50 people to the island with jobs. Examples of other communities displaying inspiring survival techniques are:

The Commission proposed a major expansion of parish and community councils, more investments in grassroots arts, new planning laws to make it easy for communities to buy land for housing, and a single voting day when all rural councils would be elected. They also want to see large estates, local authorities and others sell or transfer large amounts of land and buildings to communities to develop as they think fit.

Impacts

Relevance

Carnegie's report identifies the essential ingredients of a thriving rural community in 2020:

  • Community ownership and management of local assets;
  • Stronger local governance and effective community action planning;
  • Strong social networks founded on high levels of volunteering and skilled support.


Central and local government, landowners, the Social Investment Bank, the Lottery distributors, Third Sector agencies, trusts and local communities should work together to deliver:

  • A major expansion in community ownership of local assets;
  • An enhanced role for parish and community councils;
  • A Centre for Excellence supporting rural community development policy and practice on the ground;
  • Encouragement and assistance for local communities to develop and manage their own services and to engage in community planning;
  • A greater role for local communities in supporting sustainable development;
  • Not just thinking – doing.

References


The Carnegie Commission for Rural Community Development (2007) A Charter for Rural Communities

The Capmapign for Rural England (2008) 20:26 Vision: What future for the countryside?

Links


http://environment.guardian.co.uk/conservation/story/0,,2107792,00.html 

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