Rural - KQ3 (environmental issues with rural change)

Question 1

What are the two main rural changes?

Answer 1

• Increasing use for leisure and recreation

- Changes in farming

Question 2

Define rural growth

Answer 2

The population growth of rural areas due to in-migration by former urban residents

Question 3

How has land use change created environmental pressure?

Answer 3

• Building developments = more impermeable surfaces = increased flooding
• Pastoral to arable farming = increased soil erosion during winter months when soil has little vegetation and removal of vegetation decreases biodiversity

Question 4

What are the causes of traffic congestion and pollution?

Answer 4

• More traffic = more congestion = more pollution
• Increased car ownership and usage and better motorways
• Decline in public transport = more cars on the road
• Increase commuting

Question 5

What are the problems with traffic congestion and pollution?

Answer 5

• More accidents and animals killed
• High fuel costs
• Traffic = pollution

Question 6

What are the causes of land degradation and dereliction?

Answer 6

• Loss of population = fewer people to maintain area
• Ageing population = too poor or old to renovate property
• Decline in farming = abandoned farm houses and buildings
• High population = land degradation = declinging quality of land and declining yields (less economic activity)
• Vegetation changes = decaying shrubland replacing improves pasture

Question 7

What are the problems with land degradation and dereliction?

Answer 7

• Decaying property
• Abandoned machinery and over grown fields
• Visual pollution

Question 8

What are the causes of water pollution?

Answer 8

• Increased use of fertilisers in fields close to water courses = eutrophication
• Illegal dumping of material
• High rates of soil erosion = land use changes
• Accelerated run off due to more houses with flat roofs

Question 9

What are the problems with water pollution?

Answer 9

• Decline in water quality
• Decrease in biodiversity in streams and rivers
• Loss in crops/plants

Question 10

What are the reasons for rural growth?

Answer 10

• Retirees want a quieter life
• Cheaper housing than in urban areas
• ‘Rural idyll’ = beauty, space and heritage
• Community feel and activities
• IT connections = people can work from home and so live further away

Question 11

What is the greenbelt in the UK?

Answer 11

Greenbelt = protected land around urban areas to stop urban growth and protect land

• Used for agriculture, leisure and nature reserves
• Prevents residential building and makes clear distinction between urban and rural areas

Question 12

What are some pressures on the Norfolk Broads?

Answer 12

Norfolk Broads = finest and most extensive wetlands in UK = national park in 1988

• Sea levels expected to rise = land submerged and tourism industry, ecosystem, historical buildings and homes could be lost
• Litter/rubbish issues
• 1 million + visitors a year = pressure on area
• Boats cause river bank erosion = 130,000 boat journeys a year

Question 13

What are some pressures in Wicken Fen?

Answer 13

• Removal of land from crop production
• Increased number of visitors = traffic and parking problems
• Disruption to agriculture

Question 14

What are the key characteristics of Wicken Fen?

Answer 14

Wicken Fen vision = new nature reserve cover 53 km2 between Cambridge and Wicken Fen

• Hopes to be home to 7800 species
• Helps rare/endangered species
• Area managed by grazing
• Protected area is planned to be expanded