Clive Aslet claims that the “British countryside has never had it so good” and in some ways he is right (In Focus).
We have more woodland and a greater appreciation of dark skies. The range and quality of local produce is better than ever. Broadband connectivity is not perfect, but improving.
Yet Mr Aslet is also right to highlight the extent to which the housing crisis looms over the countryside, and the likely legacy of ill-conceived government proposals to tackle it.
Unrealistic and unsustainable housing targets have already put tremendous pressure on councils to release more countryside for development.
Government proposals now seek to force the release of even more land when those targets are inevitably not met. Instead of penalising housebuilders for slow completion rates, we will instead be punishing councils and communities for the failures of big business and big rhetoric – and we will fail to build the houses we need where we need them.
We should build first on brownfield land, redeveloping and regenerating our towns and cities, and ensure both rural and urban communities benefit from a future for the countryside that focuses on quality of life, embracing beauty, local character and the enjoyment of tranquillity.
Tom Fyans
Director of campaigns and policy
Campaign to Protect Rural England London SE1
Former Country Life editor Clive Aslet says that in almost every way our rural areas are better than in the “dismal 1970s”.
But this is astonishingly naive given the shocking and sustained loss of biodiversity over the past 40 years.
Much of our green and pleasant land is now in effect green desert, a monoculture drenched in taxpayer-subsidised agrochemicals and practically devoid of wildlife.
The groundbreaking State of Nature report, published in 2013 by 25 of this country’s leading conservation NGOs, found that populations of 60% of all UK species have declined over recent decades.
Many once common farmland birds, butterflies and wild flowers are disappearing, rapidly turning into folk memories.
It may be easier to find decent grub and upmarket B&Bs in the countryside nowadays, but sadly you will have to search much harder for skylarks, lapwings and hedgehogs.
Ben Hoare
Features Editor
BBC Wildlife Magazine
I was interestedly reading Clive Aslet’s account of the British countryside when I came across his experience of visiting Anglesey. The only thing he could say about it was that it had a Waitrose that delivered.
Anglesey is a wonderful place to visit with beautiful countryside. It has a 125-mile coastal path, which includes some of the best beaches in Britain. It also has many varied habitats with a multitude of bird and other wildlife and many historic and prehistoric sites.
Perhaps Mr Aslet’s successor will show more interest in the countryside and a bit less interest in supermarkets.
Peter Brook
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
Anglesey
