Changing Rural Landscapes

• What is the case study for population growth in rural areas of the UK?

  South Cambridgeshire
• What is the case study for population decline

  in rural areas of the UK?

  Outer Heberdies
• Why do 19% of people in the UK still live in rural areas?


  A better quality of life
• How is rural population growing?

  Counter urbanisation
• How is urban population growing?

  • Natural increase
  • Immigration
• Are urban or rural areas growing faster?

  Urban
• How are rural areas changing?

  • Counter urbanisation
  • Greenbelt prevents urban sprawl - near green belts are often commuter settlements

  BUT

  • Increasing pressure to build on greenbelt land due to the UK housing shortage, so the greenbelt may not be sustainable long term
• How is land use in rural areas changing?

  High demand to live in both the greenbelt and national park areas for 2cnd homes, holiday homes, and air bnb, causing gentrification of the areas. These areas used to be sparsely populated, and now facing growth.
• Where is South Cambridgeshire?

  • Most rural area surrounding the city of Cambridgeshire
  • Just outside the greenbelt
  • East England
• Where are the Outer Heberdies?

  • Chain of 65 islands
  • Coastal
  • Scotland
  • Most live in the island of Lewis
  • Some of the best beaches in Europe
  • Isolated
  • Highlands
• Describe the population of South Cambridgeshire

  Population of 150,000 increasing due to migration from Cambridgeshire, the UK, and Eastern Europe.
• Describe the population of Outer Heberdies

  Population of 27,400, overall decline of more than 50% since 1901, mainly due to outward migration because of limited employment and no natural increase due to an aging population.
• Effects of population growth in South Cambridgeshire

  • Large numbers of highly skilled and educated youth are immigrating in
  • 21% of population are employed in high tech industries like computer science
  • In 2013, natural insurance registration increased by 25% vs 2012
  • Population expected to reach 182,000 by 2031
  • Elderly population expected to reach 29% by 2031
• Effects of population decline in the Outer Heberdies

  • UK and Scotland governments provide subsidies towards cost of operating ferries and maintenance of essential services
  • Struggle to maintain economy, many businesses like post offices are being forced to close
  • Many youth move away, fewer people of working age
  • Number of school children expected to fall leading to school closures
  • Aging population, less youth to support them, may lead to care issues in the future.
• Social effects of population growth in South Cambridgeshire

  • Lack of affordable housing (gentrification)
  • Increased migrants from poor parts of Europe -> pressure on services
  • 80% car ownership -> congestion, reduced demand for public transport
  • Modern developments -> breakdown in community spirit
  • Increased social diversity
  • Young people can't afford house prices so are forced to move away
• Economic effects of population growth in South Cambridgeshire

  • Commuters spend money where they work, so don't improve the local economy
  • Some of the highest petrol prices in the country
  • Lack of affordable housing (gentrification)
  • Increased migrants increase overall costs
  • Reduction in agricultural employment as farmers sell their land for housing developments, may increase jobs in construction
  • Gentrification of abandoned villages
  • Young people can't afford house prices so are forced to move away
• Social effects of population decline in Outer Heberdies

  • Possible increase in provision for the elderly due to change in population dynamics
  • Number of school children declining -> school closure -> aging population -> lack of care provision
• Economic effects of population decline in the Outer Heberdies

  • Farming - breeding sheep on small farms (crofts) - can only provide work 2 days per week
  • Decline in fishing for prawns and lobsters, few found in 2015 vs over 900 in 1948
  • Shellfish production increased, foreign owned ships dominate deep see fishing - limited due to environmental concerns
  • 2007 - 2014, 24% increase in visitors - current infrastructure is unable to support tourism income
• Describe causes and consequences of counter-urbanisation on UK's rural landscapes (6 marks)

  • Define counter urbanisation
  • Push factors from urban areas - pollution, urban stress, business
  • Rural areas are more attractive and become commuter settlements
  • Pull factors to rural areas - greenbelt, protected green spaces

  BUT

  • Housing crisis putting pressure on preservation of greenbelt - maybe not sustainable long term
  • In UK, even sparsely populated areas e.g. Lake District are experiencing population growth as they have attractive landscapes and are often used for second home ownership