The truth behind exodus from town to country

The surge in the number of young families leaving London was revealed today in the biggest ever snapshot of life in England's countryside.

However, the highly-detailed survey also highlights some of the reasons why others are determined to stay in the city.

The government report, called The State Of The Countryside 2004, paints an upbeat picture of country life only three years after the foot and mouth catastrophe threatened to devastate the rural economy.

It suggests that the late-1990s fashion for celebrating the sophisticated "café ³ociety" lifestyle of the city may have run its course as the stress of urban life takes its toll.

It dramatically confirms census figures last week showing that 150,000 mainly middle-class people a year are fleeing inner-city London.

Today's survey shows that the number of people living in the country has grown by 1.7 million - the equivalent of a quarter of the population of London - since the early 1980s.

The city-to-country migration is now four times bigger than England's traditional North-to-South movement of population. The surge in rural population is concentrated in the 25-44 and 0-15 age groups - suggesting that the urban exodus is being led by young parents and their children.

However, it is not all good news in the countryside. Today's report, from the Government's rural quango the Countryside Agency, shows that rural areas are continuing to lose easy access to post offices, banks and schools.

There is also a growing housing crisis, with rural homelessness rising by 30 per cent in the past five years as country property prices continue their relentless rise.

The number of second and holiday homes is also soaring in much of the South-West and the Lake District.

The report also raises concerns about rising fear of crime in the countryside and a dramatic deterioration in country roads and lanes as they are pounded by ever-increasing volumes of traffic.

There are also "pockets of deprivation", despite almost zero unemployment, because many people in rural areas are forced to survive on very low incomes. Pam Warhurst, head of the Countryside Agency, said: "Life in England's countryside is good - for many. More and more people are moving there to live, and why shouldn't they have that choice?"

But she warned: "There's nothing wrong with wanting a good quality of life but this pressure on the countryside has an unintended impact.

"Those who exercise their choice to move can reduce the choices of the less well-off in rural areas and affect the character of our countryside."