changes in rural settlements

• HICs:

  • rural/urban continuum
  • economy isn't dominated by agriculture - 2% of UK
  • no longer farming communities
  • change of culture e.g. hunting
  • locals can't afford to live in villages
  • resent from locals
• Loss of services in HICs:

  • 1 in 13 primary schools close (1997)
  • 2500 post offices to close
  • health centres are replaced by polyclinics in towns
  • bus services/rail services
  • libraries
  • shops due to supermarkets in nearby towns
  • middle class population choose to use services in towns
• Rural areas adapting in HICs:

  • bigger farms without hedgerows for machinery
  • farms have diversified e.g. unconventional products, tourist centres, adding value with "pick your own", ancillary resources (turning fields into wetlands)
  • over supply of diversified farms
  • hi-tech businesses (SMEs) for cheap land, and better lifestyle for employees
  • conservation
  • tourism
  • recreation