‘Regionalism’ and ‘localism’, as cultural factors, are significant in British life, but opinions differ on how

strong they actually are. They can illustrate a sense of belonging, which becomes more evident with
increasing distance from London and the UK government. They may reflect a determination by regional or
local populations to assert their individual identities. These have increased in Scotland, Wales and
(arguably) Northern Ireland with the devolution of political power from London and the establishment
(1999–2000) of a Parliament in Edinburgh and Assemblies in Cardiff and Belfast. But smaller local
government areas in these countries may well react to centralized power in the capital cities. Devolution
has also provoked demands for greater autonomy in some English regions such as the north-east, and the
RDAs may serve as future sites for devolved regional government in England.
Identification with even smaller local areas was arguably more significant when the British were a rural
people living in villages and were less mobile. But today, this identity may still be strongly focused on
cities (such as Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Belfast, London and Cardiff) or on English and Welsh
counties rather than the larger regional areas.
Historically, Britain’s physical features have influenced human settlement, population movements, military
conquest and political union. They have also conditioned the location and exploitation of industry,
transport systems, agriculture, fisheries, woodlands and energy supplies. Today they continue to influence
such activities and are tied to public concerns about pollution, weather change, the state of the natural
environment and the quality of food products. Some have been affected by government policies (such as
privatization) and European Union directives on agriculture and fisheries.
In recent years, the countryside has become a fierce political issue. Many rural inhabitants, groups such as
The Countryside Alliance and farmers feel neglected by the UK central government. They and others
object to the alleged destruction of the physical environment and the lack of understanding of country life.
In Britain, there has historically been a tension betw een urban and rural cultures but many people (even in
the cities) feel a traditional (if romanticized) nostalgia and identity for the countryside.
Britain’s geographical position is marked by latitude 50°N in southern England and by latitude 60°N across
the Shetlands. It thus lies within only 10° of latitude and has a small and compact size when compared with
some European countries. Yet it also possesses a great diversity of physical features, which surprises those
visitors who expect a mainly urban and industrialized country. The many beauty spots and recreation areas,
such as the ten National Parks in England and Wales and areas of natural beauty in Scotland and Northern
Ireland, may be easily reached without much expenditure of time or effort.
The distance from the south coast of England to the most northerly tip of the Scottish mainland is 600
miles (955 km), and the English east coast and the Welsh west coast are 300 miles (483 km) apart. These
relatively small distances have aided the development of political union and communications and
contributed to social, economic and institutional norms throughout Britain. But, prior to the eighteenth
century, there were considerable obstacles to this progress, such as difficult terrain and inadequate
transportation.
Britain’s varied physical characteristics are a source of identification for many people, such as the Giant’s
Causeway in Northern Ireland, the cliffs of Dover in southern England, the Highlands of Scotland and the
Welsh mountains. These result from a long geological and climatic history. Earth movements forced
mountains to rise from the sea-bed to form the oldest parts of Britain. Warmer, sub-tropical periods then
created large swamp forests covering lowland zones. These, in turn, were buried by sand, soil and mud, and
the forests’ fossil remains became coal deposits. Later, the climate alternated between warmth and Arctic
temperatures. During the latter Ice Age periods, glaciers moved southwards over the islands, with only
southern England free from their effects.
Highland areas were slowly worn away by weathering agents such as wind, ice and water. This process
rounded off the mountain peaks and moved waste materials into lowland zones, where they were pressed
into new rocks and where the scenery became softer and less folded. The geological and weathering
changes shaped valleys and plains and dictated the siting of Britain’s major rivers, such as the Clyde in
Scotland; the Tyne, Trent, Severn and Thames in England and Wales; and the Bann and Lagan in Northern
Ireland.