The future direction of rural areas has reached the political agenda within both the national

governments of Britain and France as well as the European Union. Whatever the future holds,

it seems clear that the role of farmers in rural communities and the place of agriculture in rural

economies are changing irrevocably. Innovative forms of economic activity, in some cases

incorporating developments in information technology, are re-shaping the lives of rural

residents and the landscape of rural areas in Britain and France. The collection of papers

included in this volume reflects and synthesises some of this evolution.