Rural change in Developed Countries (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

Case Study - Changes in Rural Environments UK

Spec point — 4GE1-S6.068

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

  • depopulation where areas experience a decrease in population over a period of time
  • Tourism
  • counter-urbanisation where people move from an urban area to a rural area
  • suburbanisation when urban areas spread outwards into the surrounding rural areas

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

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

Case Study

Depopulation in the Western Isles

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

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

• Depopulation is most common in the remote, less accessible rural areas due to:

  • the mechanisation of agriculture which has led to the decreasing availability of jobs
  • the younger generation leaving to gain a wider variety of opportunities
  • 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

Depopulation and the negative multiplier effect

Impacts on the Western Isles

• 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 the 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

Worked Example **Suggest two factors which might have encouraged the depopulation of the Western Isles **

(2 Marks)

• Answer:

  • Remote/ low accessibility (1)
  • Poor service provision (1)
  • Limited employment opportunity** (1)**
  • High/rising unemployment (1)
  • Farming difficulties/mechanisation (1)
  • Limited facilities (1)
  • Harsh weather (1)

Case Study - Tourism Pressure on Rural Regions

Spec point — 4GE1-S6.068

• 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

Case Study

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

Transport pressure

Pressures	Management strategies
- Many visitors travel by car - The rural roads are narrow - This leads to congestion and air pollution - Not enough parking available	- 'Drive Less, See More' initiative to connect public transport - Increased parking facilities - Park and Ride schemes in Wasdale - Increased charging points for electric vehicles - Zero carbon buses

Housing pressure

Pressures	Management strategies
- Increase in second homes - 50% of houses in Keswick are holiday lets or second homes - Increase in house prices due to the demand average price in Keswick is £370,000 - Local people cannot afford to buy homes	- New low cost homes are built which can only be purchased by local people who work in the area - New bill to increase the amount of council tax paid by second homeowners - Planning restrictions stating that houses have to be permanently occupied

Employment pressure

Pressures	Management strategies
- Many jobs are in primary economic activities or tourism - These jobs are often low paid and/or seasonal	- Improvements in connectivity to the internet - Encourage new businesses to locate in the Lake District through the use of development grants

Environment pressure

Pressures	Management strategies
- Footpath erosion on the fells due to the sheer numbers of walkers - Litter - Disturbing livestock and damaging crops - Erosion of the lake banks - Destruction of habitats	- 'Fix the Fells' and National Park Authority working to repair the footpaths - Additional bins - Posters to encourage people to keep dogs on leads and close gates - Speed limits on the lakes

Case Study - Suburbanisation and Counter-urbanisation

Spec point — 4GE1-S6.068

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

• The 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 living nearby
  • more space for expansion, large stores and car parking
  • cheap land
  • more attractive environment

Case Study

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 include:

  • larger houses for less money than in London
  • gardens and more open space
  • less crime
  • lower pollution levels
  • attractive environment

Impacts of counter-urbanisation

• Transport

  • Increased commuters lead to more traffic and congestion

• Housing

  • Increase in house prices as people moving in can afford more
  • Young locals cannot afford house prices
  • Demand means more houses are built
  • Older housing is renovated and extended

• Environment

  • Increased traffic leads to more air pollution
  • Building on greenfield sites

• Services

  • Greater numbers of people may keep healthcare and schools open

• Community

  • Communities can become divided into new residents and old locals - conflicts can occur with disagreements about new developments