8. Managing Rural Change. Key questions. What are the characteristics of rural areas? What are the social and economic issues associated with rural change? What are the environmental issues associated with rural change? How can rural areas be managed to ensure sustainability?

9. What are the characteristics of rural areas? RuralUrban

10. Key concepts Rural landscapes evolve over time and space. Rural landscapes vary with location. Rural locations have certain characteristics and result from a variety of interdependent and interconnected activities and processes. Change in rural areas produces a variety of impacts. Rural change results in opportunities and challenges. Sustainability in rural areas.

11. Rural areas. Variety and range of functions. Processes in rural areas. Opportunities in rural areas. Factors that influence development of rural areas (political, economical, social and environmental). STUDY OF 2 CONTRASTING AREAS. West Oxfordshire vs Eastern Cape of S. Africa.

12. Background theory. Take it further activity. Reading from Waugh –Page 394 patterns and morphology. –Page 397 – Causes of dispersion and Nucleation. –Page 398 – 400 – Changes in rural settlement in Britain AMB COPY FIG 14.20, 14.21, Places 50 to support changes in rural settlement causes and results to society, environment, services, economy, demographics..

13. What is the key term? Buildings grouped together? A scatter of farms/houses/hamlets? Along a main road? An individual building?

14. A cause of dispersion or nucleation? Limited or excess water? Limited natural resources? The feudal open field system? A desire to be near services? The tradition of estates? Extreme physical conditions? Defence or protection? Transport routes? Enclosure act under the agrarian revolution?

15. Definitions Isolated settlement Dispersed settlement Nuclear settlement Linear settlement. Causes of dispersed and nucleation settlement pattern.

16. Changes to rural areas How have rural areas changed? 1.Those close to urban areas? 2.Those in National Parks or scenic areas? 3.Remote rural areas? 4.Those beyond commuting range? What are the economic and social implications of these changes?

20. Wensleydale – case study. Stick in the maps. Can you see a settlement distribution? Can you explain it? Use the text to write up notes. Compare and explain the settlement pattern in the low and high land. Then make notes on the rural characteristics under the heading given.

21. Characteristics Key term page 216 Rural settlement What is rural – how can we define a rural area – population? Services? Settlement hierarchy Hamlets, villages and market towns. Typical services in each? Location, location, location is very important to rural settlements. Why? Dependent on threshold and sphere of influence.

22. Range of functions in Rural areas. Functions tend to be low order functions in hamlets and villages as populations increase so do the number and range of functions and services. Higher order goods need higher thresholds and draw a larger sphere of influence (service centres). Eg. 6.2 page 217 key terms recap.

23. Factors affecting rural functions and opportunities Spatial variations – near or far from transport routes and main service areas. Opportunities as a farmer will vary if you are near or far from a market and population. Other opportunities include fishing, mining, forestry, recreation and housing. Variations over time – decline in farming and other traditional rural activities. What purpose do many rural settlments have today compared to 50 years ago?

24. Processes in rural areas. Population growth and decline. (counterurbanisation due to urban – rural migration and rural depopulation due to rural – urban migration). Resultant growth and decline of settlements. Changes in the rural economy which impact society and the environment. How will counterubanisation and rural depopulation affect a settlement?

25. So far…. Key terms – threshold, sphere of influence, high order / low order, hierarchy, function, settlement morphology and pattern. Identifying and explaining a settlement pattern. Factors influencing the characteristics of rural areas (physical – climate, relief, drainage, soil and rock type. Human – transport routes, accessibility to urban areas, land-ownership, planning controls, farming politics, government use. Characteristics of rural areas – landuse, opportunities, demographic make-up/processes, activities. Case-studies so far – Wensleydale, Vasternorrland and Rural NE of Brazil (contrasting rural areas – factors explaining characteristics and development).

26. RURAL CHANGE What are the social and economic issues associated with rural change. Rural change leads to differences within and between rural areas. Lack of economic opportunities can lead to depopulation and decline 2 Contrasting areas to illustrate factors leading to growth or decline, the economic and social problems associated with growth and development / decline in rural areas.

28. Aliano As we drove into the small piazza, I thought we had driven into the 1950s. The benches were occupied by old men, while women wearing black dresses and scarves on their heads were watching from the doorways. A hunched-over woman was leading a donkey loaded with produce up a narrow alley. Everyone stared as we pulled into the square and got out of the car; it was quite clear that it was very rare that a Fiat with three (foreign) girls came to town!

29. I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW REMOTE IT WAS! IT TOOK A GOOD TWO HOURS FROM MATERA, WHICH ITSELF IS FAR OFF THE BEATEN TRACK. THE OLDER GUYS SPOKE ONLY DIALECT AND I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND A WORD! AFTER ANOTHER HOUR ON WINDING, EMPTY COUNTRY ROADS, WE WERE CLOSING IN ON ALIANO. THE VILLAGE IS PERCHED ON A RIDGE, WITH DEEP RAVINES ON ALMOST EVERY SIDE OF THE TOWN, AND A TINY WINDING ROAD LEADING UP FROM THE VALLEY. FROM EVERY ANGLE THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL, LUSH LANDSCAPES AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE, INCLUDING SNOWCAPPED MOUNTAIN TOPS. I WAS THANKFUL THAT WE CAME IN THE SPRINGTIME, WHEN THE LANDSCAPE WAS STILL GREEN. LATER IN THE YEAR, THE AREA GETS ARID, DRY, AND EXTREMELY HOT. THE TOWN HAS ABOUT 1,000 INHABITANTS BUT NOT MANY CHILDREN OR YOUNG PEOPLE. THE KIDS WE DID SEE, HOWEVER, WERE SO EXCITED AND KEPT YELLING RANDOM ENGLISH WORDS AT US - MONKEY, HOW ARE YOU, ICE CREAM! PEOPLE WERE REALLY NICE TO US. MAYBE A LITTLE PUZZLED THAT WE WERE THERE, BUT DEFINITELY NICE. ALIANO WAS QUIET AND MAGICALLY BEAUTIFUL, AND SEEMED COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM ANYTHING ELSE I HAVE EXPERIENCED IN ITALY, OR ANYWHERE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO TOUCHED BY A PLACE. I ALWAYS CRY WHEN I EXPERIENCE SOMETHING MONUMENTAL, AND I CRIED WHEN I SAW ALIANO. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO A REMOTE, BEAUTIFUL, QUIET CORNER OF THE EARTH, AND I CRIED MY TEARS OF HAPPINESS FOR HAVING REACHED MY DESTINATION.

30. Aliano Problems Opportunities Demographic changes Future? Using Video notes and sheet write up a case study focusing on factors leading to decline (supported with data) and economic and social consequences.

31. POPULATION - ITALY

32. Aliano – Mezzogiorno – Rural Decline.

33. ALIANO Location: Population change: Reason for decline: Social and economic impacts:

34. Oxford’s greenbelt under pressure.

35. RURAL CHANGE AROUND OXFORD – map from h/w sheet. Using page 230-231 in Dove. Why is Oxford’s greenbelt under threat? What land uses are “invading”? What environmental problems do developments in the rural-urban fringe cause? Why do you think this area is experiencing growth? What socioeconomic problems arise?

36. Factors leading to the growth or decline of rural areas. Transport Changes in standards of living Changes in the size of households Dissatisfaction with life in urban centres Increased car ownership Improved technology

37. Problems associated with the pressures on rural areas. Remember the nature of pressure on the rural-urban fringe depends on its location. Urban sprawl is the main culprit and although greenbelts have been successful in the most part they don’t exist everywhere. What are the pressures on rural areas? What is being built on them? Copy fig 6.18 page 228

38. The BIG problem. DECLINE IN RURAL SERVICES. Why do you think this is? Threshold.

39. Environmental issues. Changing land use Traffic congestion and pollution Land degradation Water pollution Rural dereliction Case study Oxfordshire.

40. Impact of change on environment Using the Oxfordshire case study on pages 238 – 243 makes notes under the following headings: Housing/building developments Agricultural practice Recreation and leisure Transportation Water pollution/developments. Remember focus on how environment is changed - the cause and the effect.

42. Damage to protected environments due to recreational and leisure use. Norfolk Broads – boat-based recreation, bird watching and fishing. Effects include deteriorating water quality due to nutrient enrichment from farmland run-off and phosphates from sewage. Water is cloudy due to turbulence from boats destroys aquatic plants. Disruption to food chains increasing number of small fish. Bank erosion. Noise and wash from boats disturb wildlife especially birds.

43. Environmental impact of changes in farming practice. Main impacts include land degradation, pollution, damage to wildlife and landscapes East Anglia and the Fens.

46. East Anglia Is the UK’s leading agricultural area with 72% of region as cropland due to favourable relief, soil, climate. Nowhere else in the UK have the agricultural policies had a greater impact. The causes of change are due to political and economic factors – the CAP - recap. Financial incentives of the 1970s and 1980s increased production levels of wheat, barley and oilseed rape. The increased production was achieved by use of agrochemicals and increasing the area of land under cultivation as well as farm amalgamation and specialist farming.

47. The impacts. Hedgerow removal to accommodate machinery and increase land under cultivation. Transformed Norfolk and Suffolk and created a prairie-like landscape. Biodiversity declined and was made worse by use of pesticides. Bird populations have declined as a result due to loss of nesting sites and food resources.

48. The impacts Loss of habitats including ancient woodland, lowland heath and wetlands. Lowland Fen areas are drained and converted to arable lands (handout). Water pollution. Use of agrochemicals pollute groundwater and surface water. Nitrate enrichment due to run-off leads to eutrophication and pollutes drinking water which costs the UK £225 million/year to treat.

49. The impacts Land degradation - soil erosion by wind and water intensified by removal of hedgerows and use of winter cereals instead of leaving stubble to protect soil. Reliance of agrochemicals instead of organic fertilizers damages soil structure. Outdoor pig farms remove all vegetation and exposed soil to the elements.

51. Work on services and population. Describe and explain the general relationship between population and size of shopping area. Positive relationship as population increases so does then the number of services eg Henley has 15,000 m2 of retail space and population of just under 10,000 compared to Oxford with 100,000 population and nearly 80,000 m2 of floorspace. This is due to threshold population – high order services have a higher threshold compared to low order services and so can only be profitable in larger settlements.

52. . Question b) What services do you imagine might be found in Abington, Witney and Bicester not available in a smaller town? retail park, large supermarket (Tesco/Sainsburys) car dealerships, chain stores selling higher order goods (20,000 pop), jewellers. In what sense is Banbury exceptional among market towns? Services are nearly level with Oxford but population is less than half. WHY? Route centre, near motorway, no other large settlements nearby (large hinterland). Didcot has fewer services than its population would warrant why? Dormitory settlement/ commuter town for Oxford.

53. Key changes and impacts Selective migration (counterurbanisation and rural depopulation) – social change affection housing – prices/availability and rural dereliction. Changing rural occupations – cultural change – locals vs newcomers/changing occupations/loss of traditional lifestyles. Economic changes in terms of employment opportunities and loss of services. The social, economic and environmental changes are unsustainable and the issue needs to be tackled holistically to be successful.

54. How can rural areas be made sustainable. Social, economical and environmental sustainability requires planning and management to socio-economic and environmental needs. Changes to the CAP aiming towards environmentally friendly and sustainable agricultural solutions. Rural Development Regulation under Agenda 2000 – environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. Key settlements policy (housing, employment and services). Sustainable transport solutions and traffic congestion in rural areas.

55. Making rural areas sustainable. Agenda 2000 – The Rural Development Regulation Support to enhance environmentally- beneficial farming and broaden the economic base of rural areas (diversification). This meant a move from subsidy to investment, linking rural policy and agriculture more closely and diversifying rural economies through support of non- farming interests.

56. National Framework Plan Objectives, targets and priorities at a national level included: Early retirement (excluding England!) Agri-environment (Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSC) ESAs, Organic farming Scheme - OFS). Forestry e.g. Woodland Grant Scheme and Farm Woodland Premium Scheme).

57. Regional measures Investment in Agricultural Holdings – Energy Crops Scheme. Setting up of Young Farmers (not England) Improving processing and marketing (promotion of local and regional products). Training – Vocational Training Scheme to broaden skills into agri and forestry. Rural Enterprise Scheme – advice and support to develop sustainable, diversified and enterprising rural economies.

58. Rural Enterprise Scheme EG Encourage tourism and craft activities e.g green tourism, redundant building conversion, on-farm sporting activities, farm resevoirs, farmers’ markets. Environment protection like the Wet Fens Project Car share schemes, conservation of rural heritage (village hall/shop schemes), help with finance, re-parcelling of land holding.

59. Results Changing landuse Reduction in use of fertilisers and pesticides. Increase in woodland areas Reduced specialisation. How much money is allocated to these schemes – initially only 2% of the CAP budget rest is still on market support now at 13% and set to increase to 25%

60. Agricultural change case study Environmental sustainability – new CAP and Langton Grove Farm, Eye, Suffolk Also covers diversification. Complete the reading comprehension

61. The response to the rural challenge UK – Government response is to focus on initiatives to regenerate market towns and improve accessibility and opportunity. Regardless of population change underlying problems are the same. Key Settlements Policy - The Market Town Initiative – services and infrastructure is concentrated in a small number of larger settlements where there is less opposition to change. These towns are seen as key to overall rural regeneration.

62. Programmes Retail Services – protect village services / Post offices and Safeguard schools. avoid out-of-town shopping developments unless proven it will not affect town centre. Transport – subsidies for existing services and develop crucial nodes linking rural settlements to reduce car dependency. Countryside agency gives grants for new rural transport initiatives. Housing – target new housing in rural areas and must include affordable housing and employment opportunities and infrastructure. Increase council tax on second home owners. Environment – funds to increase agri-environmental schemes and diversification. Grants to start up small businesses.

63. Key Settlements Policy - Norfolk – regeneration of Market Towns. Key questions for notes What towns are targetted? How is the housing problems being tackled? How are economic issues being tacked like unemployment and training? What is being done to improve transport shortages?

64. Tackling the impacts of recreation and Tourism Protecting the countryside: SSSI’s National Parks National Nature Reserves. AONBs Some International and Global solutions – European Habitat directive 1992 e.g. SPA special areas of conservationlike Limestone Pavements and UN Biosphere Reserves eg. Braunton Burrows Nature Reserve.

65. Problem solution: Environmental sustainability – new CAP and Langton Grove Farm, Eye, Suffolk. Affordable housing – Norfolk – regeneration market towns. Employment opportunities – Norfolk Service provision – Norfolk transport initiatives. Diversification of the economy – Langton Grove Farm and Agenda 2000 Rural Development Regulation and The Rural Enterprise Scheme Recreational Use – protected areas (NNR, SSSI, AONBs, Nat Parks).

66. Timed 25 mark essay With reference to one or more located examples, explain how rural change can put increasing pressure on the environment.