Recreation
We make around 75 million visits to England’s National Parks alone each year, and countless more to other parts of the countryside.
Tourism
Tourism is a major contributor to the UK economy, and the countryside is a big draw for visitors. £14bn is brought in through rural tourism, supporting 25,000 businesses each year. Farmers and the rural communities that live in the beautiful areas tourists are drawn to help to create the landscape and culture that attract them. The drystone walls and hedgerows that are so evocative of rural England, for example, are maintained by farmers.
Sport
The countryside can also be regarded as the nation’s playground – cyclists, walkers, horseriders, and kayakers to name but a few rely on the infrastructure the countryside provides for their recreation activity. The paths and tracks they use are often maintained by farmers, and the services and amenities on offer are provided by the local community. Around 250,000 full time jobs are provided by countryside recreation activities such as these so they are a key part of the rural economy.
Culture and Heritage
Britain’s rural landscape is an integral part of its heritage and an important cultural asset. Valleys and dales have been shaped by the people that live there over thousands of years and the resulting villages, towns, tracks and other features all tell the story of our country’s history. The British countryside is also a common component of much of our national art and literature.
