City folk are deserting the rat race for country life

Clean air and community spirit attracts incomers

A mixture of clean air, friendly people and community spirit is encouraging people to swap the urban rat race in Wales for a rural idyll, a study shows.

Nearly seven in 10 of rural residents have exchanged towns and cities for the Welsh countryside, claims NFU Mutual.

And about 45% have moved from urban areas in the last five years.

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW) said incomers helped local services to survive, but also helped to push up house prices.

The study by the the National Farmers Union insurer shows that two-fifths of former urban dwellers cite friendlier people and a stronger sense of community as reasons for their move.

While more than a third believe it is a good place to bring up children.

On the negative side an influx of people can cause house prices to escalate, but on the positive side people moving in can enhance local services and help them to survive Peter Ogden, CPRW director

Others sought peace and quiet (90%), better quality of life (75%), open spaces (75%) and closeness to nature (60%).

It is not just life-long urbanites who are seeking rural solace.

One in 10 of those moving there in the last five years from Wales are born and bred country folk returning to their roots after experiencing urban living, said NFU Mutual.

NFU Mutual chief executive Lindsay Sinclair said: "The attractions of rural life for many urbanites are clear with over 2.4m Britons moving to the countryside in the last five years.

"Those we surveyed detailed the raft of personal, well-being and lifestyle benefits that rural living brings and are embracing it enthusiastically, from getting involved in their community, teams and clubs to supporting local businesses, organisations and good causes."

Director of the CPRW Peter Ogden said there were positives and negatives to people moving to the countryside.

"On the negative side an influx of people can cause house prices to escalate, but on the positive side people moving in can enhance local services and help them to survive.

Stereotype

"If this breathes new life into a community then that's a good thing."

The study also shows that the stereotype of townies as village outsiders is outdated too.

More than four in 10 rural residents who have lived there over five years think their urban neighbours make an effort to integrate into the local community.

Nearly a fifth say they raise money for local and rural causes and over a quarter believe they are good for the vibrancy of the countryside.

The research was conducted online among 761 respondents living in rural Britain in September 2009.

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