[THR]

How do you see the future of the English countryside? Are you optimists or pessimists? Will there be less space for rural-lifestyle because cities are expanding beyond their borders?

In the old days people who lived in the countryside had their lives revolving around the countryside. Nowadays people who live in the country mostly work in the nearby cities and towns, therefore they are really misplaced urban-dwellers.

Then there are interest groups which do the countryside more harm than good. Well, that is my opinion and I'm entitled to it. I'm referring to the Countryside-alliance which is mainly associated with its opposition to the fox-hunting ban. I mean, there are real difficult problems facing the countryside like long distances, fewer job opportunities, fewer services to name but a few.

However, the countryside alliance seems to think than banning fox-hunting is the biggest catastrophe which has happened to the countryside, which makes them appear unbelievably pampered.

I wouldn't be gloomy about the future of the countryside, though. Apart from SE-England where it is truly impossible to get away from people there are still vast areas of unspoiled countryside left elsewhere in the country.