Plymouth University: The Intersection of Geography and Agriculture

I spent one and a half days at the University of Plymouth, Geography Department, talking with academics and researchers about the planning issues in near-urban agricultural communities. Prof Geoff Wilson has developed descriptions of farmers as 'productionists' (concerned with growing more, quicker) through to multifunctional farmers (concerned and involved with many aspects of farming including environmental management through to farm development). Dr Richard Yarwood helped me tounderstand the planning processes at work in south western England, and outlined the conflict between the need for affordable housing and the lack of available land. Several new developments near Plymouth are 'infill' sites between older developed sites and a rejuvenation of land near dock sites to provide new residential opportunities. Many of the staff I met had either studied or undertaken projects in Australia or New Zealand and were able to help me put the contrasts between the Australain experiences and those in the UK.