Calor Village of the Year UK
 

 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Village Aid
10th Anniversary
 
 
 
 
 
 
Calor
Visit Calor Shops - something for everybody
 

Get to know the area

Now you know the lie of the land it's time to get to grips with the area, And, of course, there's simply no substitute for visiting in person.

Visit in different seasons

Everywhere looks nice in summer. But how will you enjoy country living after weeks of rain, thick mud and freezing winds? The only way to find out is to go at different times of the year and especially in the winter months. Stay for at least a week at a time - and try commuting in the dark.

Don't stay with friends

Countryside holidays give an unrealistic impression of everyday life. Staying with friends won't prepare you for what life will be like on those days when it's just you, the cat and Radio 4 for company

Rent different types of property

Cottages are lovely to stay in for a romantic weekend but will you he able to cope with confined living on a daily basis? Try renting different sizes and styles of house - a new build or a terraced property may suit your family's needs better than a quaint cottage.

Get down the local

The pub is often the heart of the village and can set the tone for your social life. Get to know your local - it's one of the best places to make friends, ask for advice and find out what villagers really think about incomers.

Do some dummy runs

Discover how easy it will he travelling around the region. On the map it may look only a short drive to the nearest supermarket but country lanes can be slow at the best of times.Try out the local public transport, too. Is it as reliable as you'll need it to he?

 

My Kind of Town

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.

>>> Step FOUR: Sell and buy your house

 

Resources

Big barn - www.bigbarn.co.uk
British Trust for Conservation Volunteers - www.btcv.org
Cottages.co.uk - www.cottages.co.uk
English Country Cottages - www.english-country-cottages.co.uk
National Association of Farmer's Markets - www.farmersmarket.net
Ordnance Survey - www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk
Places2stay - www.places2stay.co.uk
The Ramblers - www.ramblers.org.uk
Sustrans - www.sustrans.org.uk
Visit Britain - www.visitbritain.com
Youth Hostel Association - www.yha.org.uk

 

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