This year's 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 three 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.
