CHARLES MARKS 70TH, PENS MANIFESTO ON RURAL LIFE

The Prince of Wales celebrates his 70th birthday today with a manifesto on the future of the countryside, in which he warns his may be the last generation to enjoy the “life-enhancing, timeless opportunities” it offers. He urged the public to “try to think ahead to what our grandchildren will want and need.” In Country Life magazine, the Prince has written a 1,960-word letter in which he warns that the countryside and its people cannot be taken for granted.

He outlines how a “drive for efficiency” has led to negative changes to Britain’s countryside, leaving “farms amalgamated, hedges torn out, ponds and wetlands drained, (and) rivers dredged,” noting the social change that has seen the closure of village shops, rural railways lines and pubs.