Rural change in Developed Countries (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

Case Study - Changes in Rural Environments UK

• In developed countries rural change has occurred as a result of: 

  • Depopulation

  • Tourism

  • Counter-urbanisation

  • Suburbanisation

• In the UK 19% of people live in rural areas

• Rural areas are defined as areas with a population of less than 10,000

Depopulation 

• A decrease in the rural population

• Most common in the remote, less accessible rural areas due to:

  • Mechanisation of agricultural which has meant decreasing availability of jobs

  • The younger generation leaving to gain a wider variety of opportunities 

  • As more people leave rural services decline with the closure of schools, shops and post offices

  • Rural isolation due to poor transport and communication links

  • Low wages

Negative Multiplier Effect

• Depopulation leads to a spiral of decline which it is difficult to stop or reverse

Western Isles

• Areas experiencing depopulation in the UK include the Western Isles, Scotland:

  • The population have decreased by over 50% in the last 100 years

• Impacts include:

  • School closures due to fewer children

  • An ageing population require higher amounts of social care, which will have social and economic impacts

  • Further decline in the fishing and farming industry as younger generation choose better paid jobs and the ageing population retires

  • Maintaining transport services for the smaller population is not cost effective

  • Tourism is increasingly important but the infrastructure is not suited to large numbers of visitors

  • Abandoned crofts and land

Case Study - Tourism Pressure on Rural Regions

• Many rural areas in the UK have experienced a growth in tourism and leisure

• People in developed countries have more disposable income and spare time to spend on leisure activities

• Tourism is often focused on honeypots

• Tourism and leisure need to be managed to ensure they are sustainable

Lake District 

• Designated a National Park in 1952

• Over 15 million tourists visit the National Park each year

• In 2017 it was awarded World Heritage Site status

• The population is about 41,000

Tourism Pressures

Case Study - Suburbanisation and Counter-urbanisation

Suburbanisation

• Rural spaces (greenfield sites) on the edge of towns and cities are being built on as the urban areas grow

• New homes in large housing estates are the main land use

• Population also require schools, shops, healthcare centres

• New roads - ring roads and bypasses are built to increase accessibility 

• Industrial estates, businesses and retail parks also move to the area attracted by:

  • Lots of customers and workers nearby

  • More space for expansion, large stores and car parking

  • Cheap land

  • More attractive environment

Counter-urbanisation in St Ives, Cambridgeshire

• In some areas rural settlements are growing as people move to smaller settlements from towns and cities

• St Ives is within a one-hour train journey of London and is also close to Cambridge

• People moving to the area are:

  • Young families with children

  • Professionals with high-paying jobs 

• Pull factors of the area:

  • Larger houses for less money than in London

  • Gardens and more open space

  • Less crime

  • Lower pollution levels

  • Attractive environment