6 Settlement dynamics 6.1 Changes in rural settlements Rural settlements in both developed and developing countries have undergone considerable changes in recent decades for a number of reasons. These include: l rural–urban migration l urban–rural migration l the consequences of urban growth l technological change l rural planning policies l the balance of government funding between urban and rural areas
Changing rural environments in the UK The UK reflects many of the changes occurring in rural areas in other developed countries. In the past rural society was perceived to be distinctly different from urban society. However, there has been rapid rural change over the past 50 years or so: l The economy of rural areas is no longer dominated by farming. As agricultural jobs have been lost, manufacturing, high technology and the service sector have increased. l Other significant new users of rural space are recreation, tourism and environmental conservation. l The rural landscape has evolved into a complex multiple-use resource and as this has happened the rural population has changed in character. These economic changes have fuelled social change in the countryside with the in-migration of particular groups of people. In the post-war period the government has attempted to contain expansion into the countryside by creating green belts and by the allocation of housing to urban areas or to large key villages.
Changing agriculture
The countryside has been affected by major structural changes in agricultural production. Although agricultural land forms 73% of the total land area of the UK, less than 2% of the total workforce is now employed in agriculture. l The size of farms has steadily increased. l Such changes have resulted in a significant loss of hedgerows, which provide important ecological networks. l Agricultural wages are significantly below the national average and as a result farmers are among the poorest of the working poor. l As many farmers have struggled to make a living from traditional agricultural practices, a growing number have sought to diversify.
Revised
The rural landscape is a mental or visual picture of countryside scenery, which is difficult to define, as rural areas are constantly changing and vary from place to place. The rural population comprises people living in the countryside in farms, isolated houses, hamlets and villages. Under some definitions small market towns are classed as rural. Green belts are areas of open land retained round a city or town over which there are wide-ranging planning restrictions on development.
Typical mistake Students sometimes fail to distinguish clearly between different forms of rural settlement, such as villages and hamlets, both in terms of written description and identification on Ordnance Survey maps. Some definitions include small market towns as being rural and it is important to be able to distinguish these from larger urban entities.
Expert tip Farm diversification means establishing sources of income beyond those of traditional farming. Examples are bed-and-breakfast accommodation and farm shops. Some farms diversify in only one way, while others diversify in a number of different ways.
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Cambridge International AS and A Level Geography Revision Guide
