Back to the land in the UK?

Joel_BC · #1 10/30/13, 04:16 PM

I want to do a little research for something I'm writing about. Maybe someone here knows about this.

There was a back-to-the-land movement to various parts of the U.S. and Canada in the 1970s, and at various times later. I'm wondering if there was something similar in the UK in the 1970s? If so, what regions in the UK? Thanks.

emdeengee · #2 10/30/13, 04:45 PM

We were part of the back to the land movement in British Columbia back in the 1970s. I remember reading books by Elizabeth West about her life in Wales at this time.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...l_In_The_Hills

There were also several famous rock stars who started communes in Britain at this time but I can't remember their names. And then of course there was the famous TV series The Good Life.

All of this points to a back to the land movement in the UK.

One thing that time has allowed me to see is that whenever the modern world has economic woes people head back to the land in search of security. It is possible to find some security but not all since the world has a way of intruding no matter how far off the grid you live.

Darren · #3 10/30/13, 04:54 PM

There was a family that lived in Wales and later emigrated to Canada that had a website. Not sure if the website is still up. They had quite a few posts from the equivalent to homesteaders here in the Uk, and some in other parts of Europe. France was one of the other countries.

I found the website. They called it downshifting with the people being smallholders. The website is acountrylife. It doesn't look like anyone has posted recently. Try to locate Caroline Elkin. Last I heard she lived in Nova Scotia, IIRC.

The UK had at least one magazine somewhat similar to Countryside.

http://twiddled.it/acl/forums.php?m=topics&s=2

Joel_BC · #4 10/31/13, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darren

There was a family that lived in Wales and later emigrated to Canada that had a website. Not sure if the website is still up. They had quite a few posts from the equivalent to homesteaders here in the Uk, and some in other parts of Europe. France was one of the other countries.

I found the website. They called it downshifting with the people being smallholders. The website is acountrylife. It doesn't look like anyone has posted recently. Try to locate Caroline Elkin. Last I heard she lived in Nova Scotia, IIRC.

The UK had at least one magazine somewhat similar to Countryside.

http://twiddled.it/acl/forums.php?m=topics&s=2

Those are interesting facts and leads, Darren. I appreciate your reply.

Yes, that UK website is dormant and seems to have been for about three years.

I've heard that there were BTTL trends (to some degree anyway) in Italy and France. I'd suppose there was as much, or more, in the UK. I'll see if I can find out more.

Darren · #5 10/31/13, 11:34 AM

Look up the lady I mentioned. AFAIK, she would be a primary source. I'm surprised the website is still there. It was never as popular as HT. It did have quite a few regulars that were smallholders.

I may have her email address. I'll see if it still works.

Darren · #6 10/31/13, 01:29 PM

You may be able to contact her here. She and her children relocated back to the UK.

http://blogs.southshorenow.ca/carolyn/

Joel_BC · #7 11/04/13, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darren

Try to locate Caroline Elkin. Last I heard she lived in Nova Scotia, IIRC.

Darren, I located an email address for Caroline, and sent her a message a few days ago. No reply yet, though it's early and she may still respond.

Have you, yourself, ever lived in the UK in the countryside?

Darren · #8 11/04/13, 01:19 PM

Never lived there except for visits to a girl friend in East Anglia.