State of the Countryside Report

[Greenheart]

Interesting bit of info that was emailed to me by the Countryside alliance with regard to how much angling is worth to the UK economy both financially and in jobs. If fishermen were to get organised, we could carry a lot of political clout.

The Commission for Rural Communities has this week published the State of the Countryside Report 2006 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/d...6_Complete.pdf. Providing a snapshot of rural life in 2006 the report highlights the ongoing shortage of affordable housing and records that more than 100,000 people have moved from urban to rural areas in the past year, mainly in search of the “rural idyll”. The report notes with concern that the pay gap between those in urban and those in rural areas is on average £130 per week – a large gap by any standards, although the strength and resilience of local rural economies is also mentioned.

For the first time in the State of the Countryside Report's history, there is acknowledgement of the contribution angling makes to the rural economy. The Alliance can take some credit for helping to highlight and promote angling’s socio-economic benefits. It names angling as the nation’s favourite outdoor participation sport, estimating that as many as 2.5million people enjoyed freshwater fishing last year. It recognises that angling generates £2.75 billion annually and employs 20,000 people full and part-time. The Commission’s Chairman, and the Prime Minister’s Rural Advocate, Dr Stuart Burgess, has asked for feedback on the report “to assist our ongoing development of state of the countryside reporting”. Any comments or thoughts can be sent to: State.Report@countryside.gov.ukPlease take part if you can - this important annual document gauges the health of rural Britain