Countryside Recreation Research Articles

The Sustainable Use of Sensitive Countryside Sites for Sport and Active Recreation

Sport and active recreation, as an important area of leisure activity that can take place in the countryside, has recently been the subject of much discussion both in central government reports and statutory agencies' studies. This paper examines principles for their planning and management, particularly in sensitive areas such as National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Sites of Special Scientific Interest. It takes the view that effective recreation management should be promoted, suggesting that the designation of countryside areas should not imply that they are unchanging, or that environmental policies should be applied uniformly. The Government's UK Sustainable Development Strategy 1994 emphasizes the importance of assessing capacity and of management and monitoring in providing for leisure. Yet knowledge of recreation impacts is incomplete. A number of principles for the management of countryside recreation are given, and examples given of such principles in use. These stress the need...

Paths for whom? Countryside access for recreational walking

The notion of hordes crowding and threatening the countryside is questioned on grounds of accuracy and intent; and the case for wider participation in countryside recreation by the public as a whole is explored. The diversity of recreational walking as an activity and experience is analysed to demonstrate that it can serve a wide range of purposes; and the need to address access as a wide-ranging and complex concept is outlined. Aspects of current policy in respect of access and Public Rights of Way are subject to critical appraisal; and failure to match both provision of facilities and their promotion to people's various capabilities is explored with special reference to the needs of infrequent users and ‘latent demand’. The paper argues explicitly and implicitly that the countryside can and should provide enjoyment to many more people; and that it can do so without threatening the resource base, provided appropriate policies, priorities and management practices are widely adopted.

Interpreting countryside recreation: The urban - rural dichotomy

Noting a paucity of sociological research investigating ‘countryside recreation’ from an experiential perspective, this paper reports on a study aimed at exploring the meaning of such terms as ‘the countryside’, ‘rural’ and ‘natural’ as they are understood by the person-in-the-street. A typification of countryside recreation is constructed which suggests that individuals have an essentially simple understanding of the environment in this context which centres upon an urban-rural dichotomy. The urban setting is generally associated with negative experiences while the rural setting is regarded more positively. These attitudes suggest that the countryside represents a form of refuge from many stresses commonly associated with modern, urban lifestyles. An implication of this conclusion is that attempts to ‘educate’ people into recognizing the links between their everyday behaviour and the degradation of the countryside will be met with considerable resistance since this would entail them in reconstruing their relationship with the environment.

Informal County Strategies for Countryside Recreation in England and Wales

Informal county-level strategies for countryside recreation, and countryside strategies with recreation components, have emerged since 1988, in part at least because of uncertainties in statutory strategic planning. Advice on their purpose is ambiguous but on their content is non-existent. Countryside recreation strategies are a direct response to Countryside Commission objectives, but countryside strategies have originated for a number of different reasons. They both appear to be successful at addressing non-land use recreation issues that fall outside of the jurisdiction of structure plans, and provide good examples of collaborative planning. They are, however, grant-aid-driven plans and have a residual resource claim relative to structure planning responsibilities.

The mountain bike — the dream machine?

Abstract This paper examines the development of recreation on mountain bikes, since they were introduced in 1983. It considers some of the social conflicts that have reportedly arisen and then presents the results of a user survey undertaken in 1992. This provides a profile of mountain bike use and users. The aim of the study is to provide landscape managers, planners etc., with basic information about this latest form of countryside recreation so as to encourage more effective provision and management.

Glyptis, Sue, "Countryside Recreation" (Book Review)

Glyptis, Sue, "Countryside Recreation" (Book Review)

Reviews

The Relationship Between Expenditure‐based Plans and Development Plans: With Specific Reference to Housing. by N. Carter, T. Brown, T. Abbott. Leicester Polytechnic. 1991, 50 pp, £10.00. Urban Low Income Housing in Zimbabwe. by Christopher J. C. Mafico. Avebury, Aldershot. 1991, 166 pp, £32.00. Regions Reconsidered: Economic Networks, Innovation, and Local Development in Industrialized Countries. Edited by E.M. Bergman, G. Maier, F. Todtling. Mansell, London, 1991, 312 pp, £40.00. Countryside Recreation in a Changing Society. by Carolyn Harrison, The TMS Partnership, Oxford House, 182 Upper Richmond Road, London SW15 2SH. 1991, 186 pp, £16.00. Global Challenge and Local Response: Initiatives for Economic Regeneration in Contemporary Europe. edited by Walter B. Stöhr. Mansell, London 1990, 472 pp, £45.00. Global Finance and Urban Living: A Study of Metroplitan Change. edited by L. Budd, S. Whimster, Routledge, London. 1992, 367 pp, £40.00 Hb, £13.99 Pb The Treatment of Planning Gain in the “New” Local Plans. by Patsy Healey. Working Paper 14. Dept. of Town and Country Planninng, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 1991, 82 pp.

Planning on presumption: Strategic planning for countryside recreation in England and Wales

Planning on presumption: Strategic planning for countryside recreation in England and Wales

Current trends in UK leisure: new views of countryside recreation

The early 1990s have brought with them important developments affecting countryside recreation. There are signs of changes in consumers' needs and expectations, as well as a new framework in terms of planning and agricultural policies. Farmers, landowners and commercial leisure operators are increasingly looking for opportunities to create new leisure facilities in the countryside. In this paper, we look at various aspects of these changes, and we consider the factors that are contributing to change, and some of the implications for future policy and action. Our discussion deals with the following specific topics: •the background to current changes — key features of countryside recreation in the 1970s and 1980s; •new consumer priorities regarding leisure in the countryside; •changes in the planning framework and in agricultural policies; •some examples of new approaches to countryside recreation, notably the development of the community forests; •the problems and opportunities that are emerging from the new situation.

Countryside Recreation in a Changing Society

Countryside Recreation in a Changing Society

Harrison, Carolyn, "Countryside Recreation in a Changing Society" (Book Review)

Harrison, Carolyn, "Countryside Recreation in a Changing Society" (Book Review)

A survey of consumer's preference and demand for recreational enterprises on farms

Since 1970, farming income in the UK has declined by 36% in real terms (Gretton Report. CLA 1985). Over the same period there has been a marked increase in the production of all the main agricultural commodities in the EC. This has resulted in the supply exceeding demand at existing level of support prices. The cost to the EC commission and to the UK government of supporting this excess production is a serious burden. Over the last forty year3 there has been a huge expansion in countryside recreation in the UK with 84% of people visiting the country at least once a year (NCRS.1984). ‘The reason is not only more individual spare time and money for leisure pursuits but also an upsurge in demand for access to fresh air, fresh views and fresh activities’ (C.C. CCP.224 .1987). At present, the UK government is seeking to reduce the financial support for the production of agricultural commodities and to provide encouragement for alternative uses of land. Section 22 of the Agricultural Act 1986 makes grant aid available for ancillary businesses on or adjacent to farms.

Creating national parks — ‘a grand, good thing?’

Peter Donnelly of McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, discusses some unintended consequences of creating national and countryside parks. The poor representation of the general public in decision making and determination of appropriate use of parks, coupled with the distinction between publicly-owned and privately-owned land, means that untrammelled countryside recreation becomes the prerogative of the wealthy.

The impact of research in countryside recreation policy development

This article illustrates the use made of recreation research in the Countryside Commission. It explains some of the different methods employed, describes the main results and shows the impact they have on policy development. Research has been of key importance to the Commission during its recent review of recreation policies and the main directions of the emerging policies are highlighted.

CPA policies for countryside recreation in Wales

Public demand for countryside recreation in Wales has put increasing pressure on the country's eight county council planning authorities (CPAs). This article reviews the provision and planning structures in each country, to give an overall picture of countryside recreation in Wales at present. A number of underlying issues which affect the work of the county planning authorities are identified and their implications for the future of countryside recreation in Wales assessed. To demonstrate the significance of these underlying issues, the present situation is set against its historical background.

Countryside recreation sites policy: a review

This article traces the evolution of countryside recreation sites policy in England and Wales and summarises its existing framework. This framework is then assessed from a number of standpoints. Does policy, for example, cater for demand or need, and does it have a clear social policy orientation? Does it control or promote countryside recreation? Does policy really have any influence on site provision or location? What is the logic behind policy priorities for such things as interpretation and conservation? Does free access make sense? Investigating these questions reveals contradictions in national policy guidelines and the need for a re-emphasis of policy, designed to reduce these contradictions, is discussed.

Management issues in the provision of countryside interpretation

Research based on the use of evaluation instruments at the Forestry Commission's visitor centres and sites is discussed. In-depth interviews were held with forest managers and rangers focusing on issues such as ‘who contributes to interpretative provision?’, ‘who is the visitor?’ and ‘who makes up the target audience?’. The attitude of interpreters to evaluation is examined in the context of both the ill-formulated criteria of success currently adopted and the need for continuous monitoring of interpretive provision. The concept of the interpreter as a broker is discussed. The paper concludes with a consideration of a ‘self-help’ package of evaluation and assessment instruments which has been developed to aid interpreters and countryside recreation site managers.

Scenic heritage and national parks lobbies and legislation in England and Wales

The national parks movement in Britain arose out of a concern both for the preservation of the scenic heritage and for the provision of opportunities for countryside recreation. Pressure from powerful lobbies led to legislation. The National Parks and Access to Countryside Act 1949 led to the designation of ten parks by 1957, but changing circumstances led to the recognition of the need for a broader policy for leisure in the countryside as a whole. The Countryside Act 1968 provided a package of new measures for rural recreation provision. Since then the need to protect a landscape heritage has been reasserted in the face of damage from competing urban demands and a technologically efficient agriculture. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 has reverted to issues reminiscent of the 1920s. The story of the national parks is a good example of a public sector response to vigorous advocacy, revised preferences and changing circumstances.

A new look at countryside recreation in the urban fringe

Locating recreation provision in the urban fringe has been strongly advocated, but the assumptions on which this policy has been based have received little empirical study. Previous studies are surveyed, including major studies of Greater London and Strathclyde. A review of that research suggests two hypotheses that could be evaluated against locational analysis using the 1977 National Survey of Countryside Recreation (NSCR) data. The idea of recreationists passing through an unsightly fringe to reach attractive deeper countryside is not generally supported. Some 40% of trips are made to destinations within or closely adjacent to urban areas. Virtually all types of people use one or other of the urban fringe resources for different purposes on different occasions. It is the more distant (over 10 km) areas that attract a more distinctive clientele: holiday-makers and the more affluent, better-educated minority. There is no evidence to suggest that the urban fringe makes a particular contribution to meeting...

Countryside Recreation and London's Urban Fringe

A number of assumptions are often made about the traditional role that the urban fringe can play in informal recreation. Some of these assumptions are identified and the results of a survey of the use of sites in London's Green Belt are presented and used to test their validity. The findings of the survey suggest that most urban-fringe sites are not accessible to inner city residents but are used by people drawn from very localized catchments. Characteristics of both trips and visitors suggest that the recreational use of these sites has more in common with that of urban parks than sites in the deeper countryside. Any enhanced recreational role for the urban fringe should be based, not on the assumption that the urban fringe is accessible to all urban residents or that it acts as a substitute for the deeper countryside, but rather on the role that it can play for those who live in or close to it.