The Countryside Agency's annual report into the social, economic and environmental state of the English countryside shows that those areas hit hardest by foot and mouth disease, are already the most vulnerable to economic setbacks.
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State of the Countryside 2001 - 3 April 2001

In its third annual comprehensive analysis of the state of the countryside launched today (Tuesday April 3), the Countryside Agency maps out how those areas hit hardest by foot and mouth disease, are already the most vulnerable to economic setbacks.
The report highlights the widespread dependence of the rural economy on tourism and the over dependence of the remoter rural areas on a narrow economic base of agriculture and tourism. Cumbria, Northumberland and the south west consistently rank as the most deprived rural areas in England and most prone to the agriculture/tourism duopoly.

Tourism contributes more than £12 billion to the rural economy and the number of staying trips and day visits continue to increase. Between 1993 and 2000 the number of tourist on staying trips grew by 50 per cent.

Meanwhile, agriculture's direct contribution to the national economy declined to less than one per cent gross value added (GVA) for the first time in 1999 and farming income fell to its lowest level in 25 years in 2000 - just £7,800 per capita. Unsurprisingly, farming attitudes are generally pessimistic but none more so than among livestock farmers even before foot and mouth disease erupted. At least double the number of livestock farmers agreed 'farming has no future - I intend to give it up' (12 per cent compared with six per cent of cereal farmers and just three per cent in mixed farming). More than half of all farmers are already running a non-farming business to supplement incomes and many of these are in the tourist sector. It is likely that tourism will increasingly form the diversification strategy pursued by many farmers.

Ewen Cameron, rural advocate and chairman of the Countryside Agency said: "This year we paint a detailed picture of the changing rural economic, social and environmental conditions. For many people in rural England the picture is relatively happy - in general they enjoy slightly better levels of income, health and education and suffer less from crime. But this is not the whole picture. The remoter parts of rural England, the south west, the coastal area stretching from Norfolk through Lincolnshire, and north Cumbria and Northumberland, consistently suffer real and enduring deprivation. Their economies and communities are already fragile and now in many of these areas foot and mouth has devastated farming and tourism with little other business to cushion the blow," said Mr Cameron.

"The only way back for these communities will be heavy and ongoing investment through area based regeneration initiatives which will seek to broaden their economic base. We should also realise that people visit the countryside because of the unique landscape that has been created over generations of farming. Rural tourism and agriculture are in many ways interdependent. Society and farmers need to examine what they want from each other. Thinking about rewarding farmers for different services that land managers can provide , rather than just food production, makes more sense than ever," he said. 

Other findings from the State of the Countryside 2001  report include:

  • the rapid decline in farmland birds slowed between 1986 and 1999
  • hedgerow decline appears to have halted
  • both rural and urban residents share similar concerns for the countryside, many are worried about the environmental impact of agriculture yet even more think farmers are doing a good job looking after the countryside
  • in 1999 more than 250,000 hectares of farmland was converted to or in the process of being converted to organic farming
  • one-third of all England's businesses (594,245) are in rural areas, more per head of population than in non-rural districts 
  • overall employment is higher and claimant unemployment lower in rural areas but average earnings are lower, jobs more likely to be part-time, casual or seasonal and 'hidden unemployment' is higher
  • the growth of rural population continues to outstrip urban, as more people move into the countryside seeking 'a better quality of life', yet at the same time the less well-off and young people in search of jobs and affordable housing are moving away.   

For the first time, the report presents data and analysis under the framework of 20 thematic indicators which paint a complete picture of changing rural economic, social and environmental conditions. The Countryside Agency will use these indicators to track change and the cumulative impact of organisational and individual decisions and policies.

From this year, 15 headline rural indicators will be used to track the impact of the actions set out in the government's recent Rural White Paper.

The State of the Countryside 2001  report gives an overview of rural facts and trends and urban comparison, and explores how people view rural life and the countryside.

Information is drawn from many sources. The report is available free from Countryside Agency Publications, PO Box 125, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7EP, telephone 0870 120 6466,  or check the Countryside Agency web site on www.countryside.gov.uk.

A set of accompanying regional reports will be published later this year.

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Note for editors: 

If members of the media require further information please contact the Countryside Agency press office on 0207 340 2906 / 7 / 9 

The Countryside Agency is responsible for advising government and taking action on issues relating to the social, economic and environmental well-being of the English countryside.