Prince Charles warns of ‘unprecedented challenges’ faced by the countryside

The heir to the throne, who is an outspoken supporter of rural affairs, has revealed his growing concern that the countryside faces “unprecedented challenges” as the majority of the population has “lost any real connection with the land”.

In an article released to mark his 66th birthday this week, the Prince argued that many people were now four or more generations removed from those who worked on the land and it showed in their attitudes. He urged people value the countryside - or they risk losing its landscapes, farmers, village pubs and local food.

The Prince wrote: “The rich, natural tapestry that is the countryside we value so highly does not just happen by itself. But that delicately woven tapestry is facing unprecedented challenges.

“Start pulling out the threads and the rest unravels very rapidly indeed, and is very difficult to put back again - no farmers, no beautiful landscapes with hedgerows and stone walls; no thriving rural communities, no villages - or village pubs; no local markets, no distinctive local foods ... Somehow, we need to find a way to put a value on our countryside, with all its facets.”

Advocates for Yorkshire’s rural communities came out in force to back the Prince’s comments, and said the public need to be re-educated to help the farming industry thrive.

Leah Swain, chief officer at Rural Action Yorkshire, said the Prince was “absolutely right” to put a value on the countryside – and warned any damage to the agricultural sector should be a concern to everybody.

She said: “Without farming, our countryside would change forever and not for the better. And that loss will impact on those who live in urban areas who wish to holiday in beautiful locations, eat British food, exercise in the countryside or retire to a rural location.

“Without a vibrant UK agricultural sector we also risk losing our food security which has to be of concern to everyone, not just those who live in rural areas.”

The Prince also used the Country Life column to highlight the importance of farmers, insisting he could not see a “viable future” for the countryside that does not have the farmer .

Jules Marley, chair of Campaign to Protect Rural England’s Craven branch, said the public needed to “re-educated” about how food is produced to ensure farmers were given a true price for their produce.

She said: “The countryside we all love does not happen by accident. Farming is facing unprecedented challenges from climate change to increased land costs due to the pressures of development.

“It’s time to re-educate the population. Farming is hard work, smelly and often pays poorly but the rewards are there for all to appreciate.”

Dorothy Fairburn, regional director of the CLA North, said the Prince’s comments echo its experiences of how key funding and decision making processes in the region are “becoming increasingly urban focussed.”

The CLA is working to encourage young people to get into farming lobbying for improvements to broadband and mobile phone coverage in rural areas to help rural business.

In April The Yorkshire Post launched a Big Debate looking at the future of our rural communities at a time when cuts to local authority budgets, soaring house and petrol prices and the disappearance of cherished pubs, post offices and village shop had left many rural communities on the brink.