Rural areas (also reffered to as "the country", countryside) are sparsely settled places away from the influence of large cities and towns. Such areas are distinct from more intensively settled urban and suburban areas, and also from unsettled lands such as outback or wilderness. People in rural areas live in villages, on farms and in other isolated houses, as in pre-industrial societies.
In modern usage, rural areas can have an agricultural character, though many rural areas are characterized by an economy based on logging, mining, petroleum and natural gas exploration, or tourism.
Lifestyles in rural areas are different from those in urban areas, mainly because limited services, especially public services are available. Governmental services like police, schools, fire stations, and libraries may be distant, limited in scope, or unavailable. Utilities like water, sewerage, street lighting, and public waste management may not be present. Public transport is absent or very limited, people use their own vehicles, walk, bicycle, or ride an animal, e.g., a horse, donkey,or camel.
More on [ Rural ]
Rural Affairs :: Government
Environment :: Issues
Issues :: Politics
Hunting and Shooting :: Animal Rights
Farming :: Animal Welfare
Genetically Modified Food :: Genetics

BBC News In Depth: Countryside Matters - Ongoing news, analysis and features about country life, farming, tourism and jobs, housing and public services. With video and background material.
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Country Life: Rural Concerns - Current news about countryside issues and activities. Archives organised by topic: nature, country pursuits, property, rural concerns and country life.
Country Reflections - An internet site for UK countryside news, views and services.
Meta Description: [ Country Reflections, an internet site for U.K countryside news, views, and services. ]
Countryside Online - Comprehensive countryside resource featuring articles, polls, discussion and advice.
Meta Description: [ NFU Countryside is a leading and comprehensive UK online resource for rural issues and news, countryside events, attractions and related matters. ]
DEFRA: Rural Affairs Forum for England - Meeting minutes and conference reports from the official national sounding board so that Ministers have regular and direct contact with the main rural groups so that they know what is going on and what countryside people think
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Farmers Weekly Special Report: CAP reform - The reform proposals and the reactions to them as well as related stories. Requires free registration.
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Farmers Weekly Special Report: Curry Report - Archive of stories about the report from the Curry commission. Requires free registration.
Guardian Special Reports: Rural Affairs - Complete coverage of news, analysis and comment including political issues, groups and events plus web resources.
Guardian Special Reports: What's Wrong with Our Food? - News, comment and analysis about food in the UK including organic food, labeling, food production, imports and health concerns for humans and animals.
Rural Campaigning Index - Directory of rural campaigning sites, links and pages covering political issues, campaigns and protest relating to the British countryside as well as conservation, country pursuits and rural jobs.
Meta Description: [ Directory of campaigning and conservation websites and organisations in the UK. ]
The Countrylovers Website - Information for people visiting, living or working in the British countryside.
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