Countryside Development

coun'tryside a. rural district, its inhabitants
devel'op v.t. bring to maturity; bring forth, evolve

Attitudes to the countryside are changing - the emphasis is on making the urban fringe accessible and attractive through projects such as the community forests; also bringing the countryside to the town through greenways etc. However, the rural areas still pose problems - we need a rural renaissance to ensure that these areas remain economically vibrant - and not just dependent upon tourism.

Project: Lamesley Pastures, Gateshead
Client: Great North Forest

"The site was a quagmire. Although designated as a regionally important nature conservation site on the outskirts of Gateshead, overgrazing had eradicated many of the habitats of interest. We were delighted when the Heritage Lottery Fund agreed to fund site acquisition on the basis of the development plan we prepared".