British countryside is part of our national heritage and the Government must take it seriously, new polling shows
New polling carried out for the Future Countryside event taking place today, on Tuesday 6 June, reveals that British people are incredibly proud of our countryside (second only to our NHS) with almost everyone (93%) agreeing that it should be regarded as part of our national heritage. A majority of people (54%) don’t feel the countryside is being taken seriously enough by the Government, and three-quarters (75%) want more political debate on the challenges facing rural areas.
The research, conducted by ORB International, also highlighted how the countryside is cherished by the whole population, with three in five (59%) saying that protecting the countryside is “very important”. Four times more people (36%) think those who live and work there are better placed to run the countryside than politicians (8%). People also reported an urban/ rural divide, but one which relates to how we feel rather than any conflict between town and country. The countryside makes us feel relaxed (89%), happy (68%) and hopeful (35%), whilst our towns and cities make us feel anxious (39%) and indifferent (32%).
You can read the full polling results here.
The inaugural Future Countryside event at Hatfield House will bring together a diverse range of contributors, from academic and author Rory Stewart to Defra Secretary of State Therese Coffey, Shadow Defra Minister Daniel Zeichner, environmentalist and journalist Sarah Mukherjee and Heather Hancock, Chair of the Prince’s Countryside Fund.
Nick Herbert (Lord Herbert of South Downs), co-founder of Future Countryside and Chairman of the Countryside Alliance, said: “The public clearly treasure the countryside yet they also believe that politicians don’t take it seriously enough. These findings should be a wake-up call to our political leaders who need to pay far more attention to what people feel is part of our national heritage. This is exactly why the Future Countryside initiative is timely and important.”
Julian Glover, Chair of the Government’s Landscapes Review and co-founder of Future Countryside, said: “Today’s event will tackle some of the key problems facing the countryside but will also start to address how we can make the countryside not just survive but also thrive. The British countryside should be treated as nationally important by the Government, but there is a lot to do and the choices we make now will shape our country, and its health, for centuries to come.”
Notes to editors
Fieldwork was conducted by ORB International from 26 May 2023 – 1 June 2023. A representative survey of 2002 adults aged 18+ in UK. Data tables are attached.
Future Countryside will bring together people with many different voices and views with one shared ambition – to make sure rural Britain plays a positive part in the lives of all of the people of Britain. It will focus on the place of the countryside in making our country healthier, happier, greener and more prosperous, regardless of whether we live urban or rural lives.
Future Countryside is taking place on Tuesday 6 June 2023 at Hatfield House.
For further information and a copy of the agenda, please visit our website.
Future Countryside is powered by The Countryside Alliance Foundation.