เอกสารประกอบการสอน the countryside

8/14/2019 The countryside

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5 The countryside

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A Countryside for Health and Wellbeing:

The Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Green Exercise

www.countrysiderecreation.org.uk.

How does nature make us feel? Much, of course, depends on what else is important in our lives.

Is it a good or a bad day? Irrespective of where we come from, it seems that the presence of

living things makes us feel good. They help us when we feel stressed, and if there is green

vegetation, blue sky and water in the scene, then we like it even more. This idea that the quality

of nature affects our mental health is not a new one, but it has not greatly affected the planning of

our urban and rural environments, nor the setting of public health priorities.
http://www.countrysiderecreation.org.uk/http://www.countrysiderecreation.org.uk/


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In the UK, more than 80% of people live in urban areas (Defra, 2004), though the greater growth

is now in rural areas. Urban settings by definition have less nature than rural ones. And less

green nature means reduced mental well-being, or at least less opportunity to recover from mental

stress. As natural green environments have increasingly come under pressure fromeconomic

development, so it seems our own wellbeing has suffered as a consequence. Today, stress and

mental ill-health are becoming more common, and the associated public health costs are growing.

The World Health Organisation estimates that depression and depression-related illness will

become the greatest source of ill-health by 2020. This is partly because some other behaviours,

such as smoking, over-eating and high alcohol consumption, are likely to be coping mechanisms

for mental ill-health and stress, and have their own serious consequences. In addition, many

urgent physical health challenges, including obesity and coronary heart disease, are also

connected to sedentary lifestyles. Yet it is known that physically active people have a lower risk

of dying from coronary heart disease, type II diabetes, hypertension and colon cancer. In the UK,

there is evidence for a dramatic fall in physical activity over the past 50 years.

Bill Bryson Interview

www.ukyp.org.uk/

Bill Bryson Fact-file

Wheres he from?

Bill Bryson was born in Iowa, USA, in 1951.

Why is he over here then?

A backpacking expedition in 1973 brought him to England where he met his wife and decided to

stay and be a journalist and writer. Having gone back to the United States in 1995 he returned to

live in Norfolk in 2003.


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So whats he done?

He is arguably most famous for writing autobiographical travel books (Notes from a Small Island,

Notes from a Big Country) as well as books on language and science (The Mother Tongue, A

Short History of Nearly Everything) but has spent much of his life as a journalist for The Times

and The Independent.

I see. So is he any good?

In 2006 he was awarded an OBE for his contribution to literature adding to the numerous awards

he has had for his work. His writing is often funny and insightful as well as being quite

accessible.Wow, thats pretty good. So how come he likes litter then?

He doesnt! Having always been fascinated by British heritage and the beauty of its countryside

he became President of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) in May 2007,

establishing an antilittering campaign across the country. The campaign is going from strength to

strength and he knows young people play a huge role in reducing litter, so thats why he

interviewed with UK Youth Parliament

Bill Bryson is a world famous author and President of the Campaign to Protect Rural

England. Albert Simango (Deputy MYP Kingston upon Thames) and Jack Mayorcas

(UKYP London PG Rep) met up with him to talk about his current anti-litter campaign ...

Walking in the countryside is so beautiful,why would you want to make it ugly?

How did you come to be President of the

Campaign to Protect Rural England and

what made you want to get involved in

this campaign?

I just got really annoyed about litter.

Walking in the countryside is so beautiful,

why would you want to make it ugly? I

didnt know how to run a campaign so

I approached the Campaign to Protect Rural

England and they invited me to be their

President. I am quite actively involved

with the organisation but being President is

a ceremonial role like being a symbol or a

frontman.

There have been other antilitter

campaigns before, what is different about


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this one that you feel will be able to make

a clear difference?

I think the moment is right for this sort of

campaign. There are lots of people who feel

the same way about litter and want

to do something about it. We are going to

push hard and get people to join the crusade

and I believe there is a real chance the

message will get through. We want a clean,tidy Britain.

Did you ever drop litter when you were

young?

I can honestly say I have never littered

through choice. There are times when we

are in a position where we are forced to

though - I recently got stopped at St Pancras

when I tried to take my coffee through

security to get on the Eurostar. They made

me put my coffee cup on the floor! Where

appropriate, authorities have more of a duty

to provide waste bins.

Research showed that one of the major

reasons for young people dropping litter

was laziness, how can we tackle such a

problem?

We need to explain through intelligent

advertising campaigns that there is a

consequence to dropping litter. Just as if you

are caught speeding and you get points

drivers who drop litter out of their car

windows should get given 3 points on their

drivers licence.

If somebody drops litter what does it say

about them?

It says that they arent thinking. I cant see

why you wouldnt want to keep the

countryside looking lovely. It doesnt make

sense. People appreciate a cleanenvironment. You wouldnt expect to check

into a hotel room and be faced with an

unmade bed!

We as a nation are behind with schemes

such as bottle returns and charging for

plastic bags, why do you think this is?

I think British society can be conservative.

Whilst that is often a great thing and means

that historical buildings and traditions

are really well preserved, it can sometimes

mean that as a nation things take time to

change. It is the duty of the younger

generation to take it forward and make

changes.

What do you think is the main problem

facing young people of our generation,

besides littering and flytipping?

I think life used to be easier when I was

your age. I think education is a really big

issue facing young people. You have to be a

lot more serious about it. It is also much


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harder to be an immigrant these days. When

I first got here it was easy!

Know your Countryside

www.agriaware.ie.

Know your countryside

The Irish Countryside is a national treasure

that we, the Irish people, should be proud of.

It has a wealth of opportunities to offer. It is

also a place of work for 130,000 farmers.

Why live in the countryside?


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Clean, fresh air

More playing room for children

Less traffic

Outdoor activities on your doorstep

Housing and living costs may be reduced

Open spaces

Less noise

More chances for family activities

The chance of more interaction with

neighbours

Opinions of new rural dwellers

The following are some of the findings of

recent research by Agri Aware:

80% respondents considered their quality

of life in the countryside to be good, citing

peace and relaxation as the main advantages

to living there

91% stated that their area was welcoming

for new dwellers.

69% described the community spirit in

their area as being good

70% of non-farmers considered farming to

be important to the local economy.

Why is agriculture important?

The Irish food and drink industry is valued

at over 16 billion of which more than 7

billion is exported to175 countries

worldwide.

The agriculture and food industry accounts

for 9% of GDP and approximately 15% of

total employment.

It guarantees the nations food supply.

It protects and cares for the natural

environment.

It is the rock on which the tourist industry

is based

- without agriculture, the countryside would

become wild and inaccessible.

It provides hundreds of opportunities for

leisure pursuits, sports and hobbies.

So, what do 130,000 Irish farmers do

everyday?

Farmers work all year around to provide

Irish consumers with food. Some of the

work involved is detailed below:

6 million cattle must be calved, milked,

fed, housed and cared for.

4 million sheep must be lambed, fed, shorn

and cared for.

1.7 million pigs must be housed, fed and

cared for.


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13 million poultry birds must be housed,

fed and cared for.

306,000 hectares of land must be

ploughed, sown and sprayed to grow cereals

(wheat, oats and barley) to be harvested

each year.

13,000 hectares of land must be ploughed,

sown and sprayed to grow potatoes to be

harvested each year.

69,000 hectares of land must be ploughed,

sown and sprayed for other crops, fruit and

horticulture each year.

3.8 million hectares of land must

maintained for growing grass. Grass is used

for grazing animals, cutting silage and

making hay.

Farmers are also investing in alternative

activities on their farms including: angling,

forestry, organic food production, deer

production, B&B accommodation, pony

treking, tourist trails, open farms for

children and visitors, wind farms and much

more.

Farming and the environment

Fact

Over 2.5 billion has been spent by

farmers over the past ten years to construct

better animal housing and manure storage

facilities on Irish farms.

Farmers follow strict voluntary and

mandatory codes of practice to ensure

proper use of nutrients on farms.

Agriculture recycles 100% of all animal

manures that it produces.

Animal manure is not waste, it is an

important source of nutrients for crops.

Approximately 50,000 farmers are

participating in the REPS (Rural

Environmental Protection Scheme)

voluntary scheme. Farmers involved

in REPS follow a comprehensive

environmental plan for their farms. REPS


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has been a major success and contributes to

better water quality, an increase in wild

birds and other species, and generally a

more varied and natural landscape.

Be safe! - Considerations for countryside

users Seek permission from the landowner in

advance of visiting land.

Obey all warning signs.

Do not interfere with livestock, wildlife,

plants, crops or machinery.

Keep children under close control and

supervision.

Do not enter farmland if you have a dog

with you, even on a leash, unless with the

permission of the landowner.

Dont leave litter behind.

Avoid any damage to hedges, fences or dry

stone walls.

Guard against fire, especially near forests.

Avoid all livestock because of the possible

danger to yourself and/or distress it can

cause to the animals.

Drive carefully on narrow country roads,

always expect machinery around the corner.

Make sure that your car does not block

points of access or exit and is parked safely.

Leave all farm gates as you find them.

If following a recognised walking route,

keep to the trail.


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เอกสารประกอบการสอน the countryside

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