The benefits to living in a rural setting may or may not outweigh the negatives. After all, the very term countryside is a difficult one to define, and even once we have defined what constitutes ‘countryside’, i.e whether this applies to all farming lands and villages therein, or to large towns within such lands, or to only the more remote portions of the agricultural lands, there still remains the glaringly obvious fact that no one spot of country is the same as another.

Two fields juxtaposed may differ markedly due to various factors such as crops grown, beasts raised, hedgerow width and type, dwellings present, erosion etc. Thus two places in the country shall thus in most cases differ similarly. To say that there were universal benefits to living outside of a city conurbation would be to overlook the fact that no two countrysiders be the same.

If one is a farmer or farmhand, or employed in some local cottage industry, then one is more a member of that land than one who merely resides thereabouts but commutes to work in a large city by high speed rail each morning. Thus there is not only the question of living in the countryside to be analysed but country lifestyles as well. A hi tech engineer with a mercedes might buy an old manor in the country, and a poor labourer might work on a farm thereabouts within the same ‘countryside’ vicinity.

The benefits to living in the country, in general, are, putting side the lifestyle enjoyed and whether one is actually a farmer or farmhand, numerous. There tends to be less crime, less noise, less pollution, less traffic and a healthier lifestyle and recreational environment. Thus the tree change may be seen from this as being a good idea. However if everyone lived in the country the population density would rise and the benefits of living in the country would be limited thus.

The negatives include pollution from agricultural fertilisers and waste products, sounds of farm machinery, the distance of commuting if one does not work locally, the anger of local peasants who may mob against an unwelcome city person, the lack of facilities and distance between them etc. Whether the positives outweigh the negatives is largely a matter of individual situation.

Some positives from having land include growing ones own food and subsiding mostly on ones own produce, and being able to sell excess produce. The healthier lifestyle enjoyed by country people tends to lead to a stronger sense of community, and if they do welcome your addition to their number then you will become part of a tight knit local village, which will allow you to feel a sense of belonging and to contribute to the local community.

The recreational facilities tend to be larger and more healthy than in cities. Thus health is usually better, although doctors tend to be further away. It may take hours for a doctor to come by even if he has a motor car. However the positives go on. Village pubs tend to be friendlier than city pubs. Local cricket grounds tend to be less competitive and commercialised than city grounds. The mere absence of billboards and newspaper boys is a relief.

So weighing up the negatives and positives is difficult, but usually the positives outweigh unless one is in a poor financial state.