During the pandemic we saw听a听34%听increase听in people听visiting the countryside and听appreciating the role farming plays in creating that environment.听Connecting people with rural areas on their doorstep that they may never have visited before can have a long-term legacy of greater appreciation, valuing and use of the countryside, as well as boosting health and wellbeing.听听
Through听a celebration of the听countryside,听we听wanted to also grow an appreciation for British farming听by bringing people close to where their food comes from, and better understand the role British farmers play in protecting听and enhancing听our much-loved rural areas and beauty spots.听
As part of the Levelling up rural Britain campaign听this is a priority for the NFU all year round, but during July we stepped up our efforts to coincide with the school summer holidays.听听
The听Countryside Code听
- 5,000听What鈥檚 growing in my field?听signs were听made available听to members听in听July听and are听still听available to download.听These听signs allowed听the public to connect with the farmed听landscape,听and听gain听a听greater听understanding and respect of what听farmers do to create and maintain the farmed landscape.听
- We teamed up with听听to听celebrate the beauty of the countryside and听remind dog owners to keep their dog on a lead, especially around livestock. This message was seen by 816,000 people.听
- We听reiterated the Countryside Code through听a range of images and videos听on our social media channels, as a chance to educate听visitors, both experienced and new,听who were enjoying the countryside.听
The Competition听
- We launched a听听in conjunction with听FarmStay听to听celebrate the wellbeing benefits of the farmed landscape and everything British farmers do to shape it.听听
- We asked for听photos听of people in the countryside, making sure that farmland was included, and to tell us what the place or people in the picture mean to听them. The prize was听拢1,000 towards a farm stay as well as a hamper of British Food.听
- The competition received听nearly 1,500听entries,听with听our听听sharing听their camping holiday in Aberystwyth听and听how听the countryside has helped their mental health.听听
The Survey听
- We surveyed more than 2,000 British people who live outside of rural areas across England and Wales, to better understand听the link between wellbeing and the countryside.听听
- 87% said that visits to Britain鈥檚 farmed landscape had improved their wellbeing.听听
- 84% agreed their visits had made them appreciate the role farmers play creating our iconic rural landscapes.听听
- We shared the survey results on听, which reached 56,000 people. We gained support from the听听and听听(Championing the Farming Environment) on social media, who also shared the results.听听听
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