Fieldwork

The countryside’s place in British life

Visiting the countryside is a key part of British life. Half of Britons say they visit the countryside at least once a month, with a third doing so once a week or more. At least four in ten people in every age group, from Gen Z through to the Silent Generation, say they visit the countryside at least once a month. For those who don’t spend more time in the countryside, limited access, not limited appreciation, explains this- cost, distance and transport are the key barriers to visiting Britain’s green spaces for many. Those who are financially comfortable or live in more rural areas are more likely to visit the countryside frequently as those who are more financially precarious or live in cities. 

The countryside carries a strong emotional attachment, and is a source of national pride, for many. Britons overwhelmingly associate it with a sense of calm and tranquillity, with many seeing the countryside as carrying benefits for people’s wellbeing and mental health. Nearly two thirds see the countryside as one of the things that makes Britain special.

Even the youngest Britons value the countryside - in focus groups, participants as young as sixteen said that though they don't yet visit the countryside much, or feel a strong connection to it, they still strongly support preserving it and expect the countryside to matter more to them as they get older.

Balancing priorities: The politics of protecting Britain's countryside

While protecting nature matters to the public, they are clear that it is not the government’s top priority. More people see protecting the countryside as important but a secondary issue. Meanwhile, affordable housing is consistently ranked in the top five most important issues facing the country by the public. However, this is balanced with widespread support for protecting the countryside, with more than eight in ten saying that safeguarding the British countryside is also important, including three quarters of those who prioritise affordable housing as an issue.

Housing versus nature is not seen by Britons as a zero-sum trade-off. Half believe the government can both build new homes and protect nature

When asked about future development, the public shows a preference for building on brownfield over building on the Green Belt. There is strong support for reusing disused or previously developed land for new developments, while very few support building on undeveloped green space- including among those most concerned about housing. Even young people, while concerned about housing and their ability to own a home in the future, also think the government should pursue alternative housing solutions other than building on the Green Belt. 

But Britons do not feel that housing developers share the public’s priorities for housing development. Many believe speed and profit outweigh environmental protection or constructing affordable homes in developer’s priorities for new projects.

Powering our communities while protecting the countryside

Many Britons feel the government could be doing more to support renewable energy and community-led energy initiatives, with more than seventy per cent supporting a law requiring solar panels on suitable public and commercial buildings. Support is strong even among those groups who tend to be more cautious on environmental issues, like Reform UK and Conservative voters.

Yet while the public supports the idea of investment in renewable energy infrastructure in theory, they retain some practical concerns focusing on feasibility, costs, and potential impacts on the natural environment. The public would prefer that any new infrastructure is built on previously developed land, rather than natural landscapes. Poorly sited infrastructure, or pylons, solar panels or cables being placed without community consultation- especially in visible natural landscapes- risks eroding support for renewables among voters who are already cautious of them.

Looking forwards: The future of the British countryside

There is widespread pessimism about how well Britain’s natural landscapes and habitats will be protected in the future. More than half of Britons believe Britain’s countryside and natural habitats will be less well protected in ten years’ time than they are now. When asked what poses the greatest risks to Britain’s countryside, the public highlights housing developments, urban and town expansion and a lack of coherent government strategy. While many believe the government can both expand housing and protect nature, these responses suggest that people see a gap in joined-up planning.

Yet there is little faith in Britain’s political leaders to protect our countryside and natural habitats. No party leader commands broad trust on protecting the countryside, particularly the Prime Minister. Zack Polanski, the Green Party leader, records the highest net trust score, but even this is relatively low at -12.