Countryman Diary - April 2010
Rural Advocate Report
This year’s Rural Advocate report echoes many of the points made by Countryman correspondents about the lifeblood of the countryside being drained away. Dr Stuart Burgess, chairman of the Commission for Rural Communities, focusses his report on the young: a lack of opportunities for employment, affordable housing and new technology.
“It is of concern to me when I hear that living in the countryside is not a viable option for young people,” he says. “It is not just the lure of cities and bright lights — young people are having to leave in search of jobs or housing or, having left for further or higher education, see no future in returning.
“During the past five years as Rural Advocate I have travelled extensively around England, listening to people’s views, hearing their hopes, fears and aspirations, and reporting what I found at the highest levels of government.
“The sustainability and even the future viability of our rural communities is at risk if young people are unable to live and work there.
“Not only does this affect farming and traditional rural industries but it reduces the potential of new businesses which should be made possible by modern technology.
“Lack of high-speed broadband and, in many rural areas, lack of mobile phone coverage, is a significant factor affecting local economies and services.
“It is also a major issue for children who live in rural areas. With social networking such a feature of youth culture, not to mention the expectation that children can access the internet for homework purposes, lack of access can lead to frustration and exclusion.
“My wish is that young people — everywhere — have aspirations for a rewarding and fulfilled life. The difference in rural areas is the distinct opportunities to develop professional careers locally.
“Where efforts have been made to introduce high-tech industries in rural areas, it has made a distinct difference to the local community. We need to ensure that the climate is right to attract high-quality jobs to rural areas, break the cycle of low aspirations, and inspire young people to fulfill their potential and play an active role in our society.
“Lack of affordable housing, to buy or to rent, is a major factor forcing young people out of rural areas or discouraging their return. Since the start of the recession, registered social landlords appear reluctant to take on rural schemes due to the higher costs and greater risks involved. This is coupled with evidence of a downturn in housing starts and planning applications and concern about future grants.”
His report continues with commendable recommendations which need to be followed through with political will and funding.
Young people have always left the countryside to find employment — and a different way of life. There is a need, however, to prepare the countryside for those who do want to stay through creating new kinds of employment, improving local transport, controlling the number of second-home buyers so that smaller properties are available and, most importantly, looking after traditional rural businesses with sensible policies governing imports and supermarkets.
Memorial to mans best friend
Twenty years ago this month a lone walker in North Wales made the sad discovery of the body of Lancashire man Graham Nuttall. Laying beside the deceased was his faithful dog Ruswarp (pronounced ‘Russup’) who had remained with his master for around eleven wintry weeks. The weak fourteen-year-old Border collie was carried off the mountain and cared for by the RSPCA.
Ruswarp had another claim to fame in being the only canine ‘signature’ on a 1980s petition objecting to the closure of the Settle-Carlisle Railway line between Yorkshire and Cumbria.
His owner, a railway fanatic, thought that as a fare-paying customer Ruswarp had the right to add his paw print. The line was eventually saved from closure and today it is busier than ever.
And there is now, thanks to the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line, a bronze statue of the dog at the newly restored remote station of Garsdale, high in the Yorkshire Dales. A fitting tribute to one man’s best friend.
The bronze statue of Ruswarp at Garsdale station.
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Competition Winners
Lucky readers who won our Egg Prints Competition in February are: Clare Powys, Chestfield; J R Gilmour, Bath; Tony Ashby, Crick; Mrs Salt, Newcastle-Under-Lyme; P Shardlou, Hinckley; J Lewis, West Horsley; K Heaton, Wigan; G Gould, Kendal; D Hooper, Salisbury; N Ince, Rickmansworth; S Sharrott, Repton; J Sharples, Eardisley; D Gill, Shoreham; K Cooper, Rhyl.
Thank you to all those who entered.
A spineless apology
Due to an error by the printers we were unable to reproduce the usual details on the spine of last month’s magazine — it wasn’t a design consideration or a ploy to save money as some of you suggested! Please accept our apologies.
Competition winners
Winners of the I Never Knew That About Britain quiz book competition in the January issue were: Mr Peter Rusling, Poole Dorset; Mrs B Needham, Mayfield, Derbyshire; Mrs H Mead, Chard, Somerset; M Greaves, Cheltenham, Glos; Miss Jean Sharples, Hereford; Kate Turner, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria; Barbara Winter, Tonbridge, Kent; Mrs P Tite, Tavistock, Devon; Mr Andy John, Winchester, Hants; Dr G E Beechey, Peterborough. Thank you to all those who entered.
A flood of enquiries
All the rain of recent months reminded me of the story of the visitor to a Yorkshire Dales village, who was curious as to the meaning of a broad black mark high up the wall of the oldest inhabitant’s cottage.
“What does that mark stand for?” he asked.
“Oh, that was the height of the water in the big flood of 1893,” he was told.
“Never! Why the whole village must have been under water.”
“Well, no. You see the mark used to be just a couple of feet off the ground, but as the village children kept rubbing it out, we had to put it higher.”
Paul Jackson
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