The 2007 State of the Countryside report shows there are now nearly 400,000 fewer young people aged 15-29 in rural areas than just twenty years ago. This trend is set against a rising rural population overall and has contributed significantly to a rural demographic which is both older and ageing faster than urban areas.  The report also shows:

• that rural areas experienced over 200% growth in the number of migrant workers in the last four years;
• the average rural household spent nearly £480 per week in 2005, £60 per week higher than was paid by the average urban household;
• that just 44% of households in sparse isolated rural areas are within easy reach of a GP;
• a near doubling of energy crops in the last year; and
• that due to the changing climate there are now nearly 400 vineyards in England and Wales.

Find out more about the 2007 report

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