The chances are you'll be reliant on your local market town for supplies and socialising. It won't be like big city living, so are you prepared to compromise where it matters?
Organic food
Ironically, the deeper you live in the British countryside, the more difficult it can be to find certified organic food. But this is more than compensated for by the provision of pesticide-free local produce, rare-breed meat, free-range eggs, farmshops and weekly markets. Look out for roadside
vegetable stalls: their produce is often cheap and grown with care.
Recycling
It's not any easier being green in the countryside. In fact, it can be harden Local authority recycling schemes can he limited and you may have to travel to drop off newspapers, glass and plastics. Though you'll almost certainly have a garden to inspire you to compost your organic waste.
Politics
Country politics may well differ from those in town. Hunting, housing, farming and travellers are some of the big issues on rural political agendas and you may find your stance as an urban
dweller isn't shared by other villagers. Rural politics also tend to be conservative with a small 'c'.
Religion
Despite their cosy Vicar of Dibley image, rural churches are losing attendance at twice the rate of urban churches. However, local churches and chapels are still a great source of contact and social life for both Christians and non-believers in rural areas. Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and other faiths are not well catered for in the countryside, so you may have to travel to your nearest large town or city for services.
Friendliness
Ifs a cliche but it's true. In general, people in the countryside are often more open and chatty with strangers than their city cousins. Market towns or villages with large numbers of commuters or weekenders, however, sometimes lack the warmth of places with long-standing inhabitants.
Attitude to animals Sentimental about animals? Not everyone in the countryside is pro fox hunting but you will struggle to find people who have a problem with game shooting or pest control - pheasant,
rabbit, pigeon, deer and other game shoots are an integral and important part of rural land management. Road kill is also abundant and unavoidable.
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