The Simple life
Introduction
Introduction
As someone who has lived in London all my life. Ive always been curious of those who live in rural areas. After moving to Bristol for university, Ive met plenty of people who live on farms and villages. Who are just as passionate about their feilds, as urban youths are about their cities. I interviewed a few on their experiences from growing up in these enviroments, and how they think it differs to youths in cities.
How would you describe the area that you live in?
Amongst the locals and online it’s advertised as a boutique village. What’s a boutique village exactly?
I’d say it’s a quaint, stereotypical British village. You know, it’s got one high street ing, a pub. Yeah, small,Old school, It’s condensed. Everyone pretty much knows
Clem- villager
So, what is your name?
My name is Clement Trotman.
Where are you from specifically?
I’m from a village, a little village called Cookfield in the southeast of England, just outside of Sussex.
How old are you?
I am 20 years old.
street of some boutique shops and clothknows eachother.
What has living in a village taught you?
It’s taught me that I value nature a lot and that if I spend too much time in the city, it gets you down, you know what I mean? You just need some space there, space to breathe.
And your favourite place to do that is on a field?
And the woods, peaceful.
Did you enjoy growing up there?
Yeah, I loved growing up there. I had the woods at my disposal. I had meadows. I had plenty of places to hide. Why would you need a place to hide?
Just fun, innit? Just like, if you’re with your mate. Not because you feel unsafe or anything?
No, no, no. I was very safe there. There was one time, coming back from a Christian youth club, A van pulled up on me, I think it was just asking for directions, but I was quite young so I dashed it. Other than that, I think that was the only time I felt unsafe or at threat by another person.
Do you think youths who grew up in cities are different compared to those who grew up in rural areas?
Yeah I’d say they’re a lot more exposed to different people. Like, say someone was to come from a village with no accessible city, comes to the city, completely different.
You got crackheads, homeless people, salesman on the street, They’re not used to that type of bombardment. But for me Brighton is very close by, it’s like a 30 minute drive so I dont really have that issue as much.
So would you say people who grew up in cities are more exposed to crime?
yeah, definitely. I’d say different types of crime though.
So is homelessness not really common?
I’d say it’s well known for my village if there’s a new homeless person, Yeah, because you don’t get many homeless people, if not any. It’s because there’s less food available for them. They’d get good charity donations but you also get people on the gossip groups chats saying, you know what I mean, get this guy out probably.
Do you have any stories that you’ve experienced that you wouldnt see in a city?
In year 11, these two girls, gave a cow a heart attack, becuase they were getting pissed in a feild, and it died. They just shocked it. Yeah, Crazy, and then the whole village just erupted in rage basically, ‘cause they killed a cow. I’ve also been shot at with a shotgun before, running across a field. I got chased by a quad bike, I’ve been chased by a farmers dogs as well, that’s the scariest shit.
Did you enjoy growing up there?
it’s a completely different upbringing to living in a city. There was more freedom and I was more closer to nature I guess, it’s a different way of life. it’s just more enjoyable. When I was a kid I just ran around and like threw stones at my brother and stuff in the woods.
And you can’t do that in the city?
I can’t do that in Bristol, no. It doesn’t have the same luxurious feilds.
Olly- farmer
What’s your name?
My name’s Olly Wright.
Where are you from specifically?
I’m from Cornwall. and I live just outside of a village called Lanlivery and i live on stray farm.
How old are you?
I’m 19. Next week.
How would you describe the area that you live in?
well it’s very rural, the official countryside. I live like a 15 minute drive away from a small town. Yeah, it’s kind of dead.
Do you think a city like Bristol, has more to offer than the countryside?
It definately has more stuff to do, You have to be more, creative and imaginative living in the country as there’s less to do. There’s pros and cons to both. But, I find myself wanting to go home more than wanting to come back here.
What has it taught you growing up in a farm?
Just don’t get too close to the backside of the horse.
What kind of farming do you do
then?
My grandad had to sell the milking parlour as theres no money in it anymore. However,he does meat farming and sells eggs to the village pub and all the local homies. My little brother used asked me if my grandad was the king of the village. Because, you go anywhere and everyone knows him. He’s just the guy. He’s basically the grocer for the whole village. He’s lived there his whole life. So it’s cool, going out with him, to the pub, because hes just rated. Hes literally the goat.
Wait, so how many animals do you have on your farm?Is it quite big? must be if it’s for the whole village
Well, it’s not it’s not for the whole village like people have their own farms, but he’s like He’s the top dude. But it’s pretty big, I’ve got chickens, cows, and then if it’s the right time of year, pigs and lambs. Um, and then goats, which are kind of more pets. Horses, He like rents to other people in the village, since he stopped milking,
But my middle brother he’s gonna go into farming, so he’ll take over I think but Yeah, not me.
Is it not for you, do you think?
I don’t mind helping out and stuff, but I couldn’t do it for the rest of my life, I don’t think.
Not your kind of thing?
Not my kind of thing. Maybe when I’m old. I can retire there.
Do you think youths who grew up in cities are different compared to those who grew up in rural areas?
Yeah, in different ways. Young people are similar across the country, because of the internet and social media. The difference between people that grew up in rural compared to urban areas, is more similar now than it was a hundred years ago. Do you know what I mean? It’s not like, it used to be. We all have access the the same things.
And what’s your favourite farm animal?
My favourite farm animal? Um, It might just be a cow. Like a bullock. Do you know what a bullock is? It’s like a teenager cow. So we don’t have milking cows anymore just bullocks. Yeah, just like a cow really
They’re just sick. They’re just chilling.
By Polly Treend