The changing face of the countryside
John Kinnaird describes the development and preservation of the countryside and the change of the mix of people who choose to live there
John Kinnaird has farmed in East Lothian for all his life. He is a partner in
the family farm, along with his son Andrew, who is responsible for the
management of the enterprises, which encompasses cereals - malting and feed
barley, wheat, oilseed rape, beans and grass, and livestock - 107 suckler cows
with all progeny sold as prime beef cattle and 70 pedigree sheep. The farm
totals 600 acres plus 34 acres of woodland.
Here, he examines the ways in which living in the country has changed and
will continue to change over the coming years...
It is true to say that we all appreciate the look of the countryside as we
travel through it for business or for pleasure. However not everyone appreciates
how much hard work goes into getting it to look that way! Active land management
by farmers and land owners create the landscape that we all enjoy - it doesn't
just
happen 'naturally'.
Increasingly, it is those who travel through the countryside who benefit the
most from it: agricultural progress has meant that fewer and fewer people are
required to work on the land and few if any jobs have taken the place of farm or
estate work, so many younger people have been forced to move away to find
employment, leaving an ageing population which will create challenges in the
years to come. The emphasis must change from schools to care for the elderly and
forward planning is required now to meet those needs as they arise. Fortunately,
the Rural Policy Group is examining these issues and formulating policies to
address them.
Villages close to cities face different challenges: rather than depopulation
they face the challenge of a massive change in population type to the commuter
who lives in the village but is not necessarily of the village. The increase in
population which this brings is good news for village communities, the downside
is often the resultant lack of affordable housing for thosewho continue to live
and work in the country and whose income has not kept pace with the rising
property prices which this influx of people has created. Local Authorities need
to take a more pragmatic approach to planning in these cases and review the
restrictions that they have placed on building.
While welcoming 'new blood' to the countryside, it is true to say that it has
not always been good news for local communities. People who work in cities are
not necessarily contributing to the local economy even in such simple ways as
shopping locally, although the increasing trend for local produce and farmers'
markets is going some way to changing this.
A balance is being struck and it is positive to see the development of
steadings and other farm buildings which are no longer of practical use to
modern agriculture, into housing or workshops, thus adapting existing buildings
to new uses rather than continued deterioration or wholesale demolition and new
construction.
It is important to see the development and preservation of the countryside as
a joint venture between all who live there. It is true to say that farmers have
traditionally had a lot to answer for, often resenting new people rather than
welcoming them. A great opportunity exists to expand people's understanding of
how food is produced and how land is managed which can only be of benefit.
I can only view the future positively, if we all learn to tolerate and
appreciate one another's viewpoints and to communicate. There is a real
future for farming and rural communities in Scotland and with positive
integration of those who have lived their whole lives in the countryside with
those who arrive later, there can only be benefit. If we learn to work together,
then the countryside has a lot to offer.
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY EXISTS TO EXPAND PEOPLE'S UNDERSTANDING OF HOW FOOD IS
PRODUCED AND HOW LAND IS MANAGED WHICH CAN ONLY BE OF BENEFIT.
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