Monday 9 May 2022 11:35 AM Country Life editor Mark Hedges discusses Covid 'exodus' of Londoners to the ... trends now
Townies swapping cities for greener pastures rarely understand the countryside and are 'obsessed' with their wi-fi speeds, according to the editor of rural bible Country Life.
Mark Hedges, who edits the 125-year-old glossy magazine, says the Covid pandemic has sparked a 'great exodus' of city-dwellers to the countryside.
But he says not everyone is 'happy' with the mass countryside migration of what he calls 'Twats' - city workers who only go into the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
In an opinion piece in The Times, the journalist, who grew up in the Cotswolds, took aim at 'newcomers' who he said held 'strong views' about rural issues such as badger culling but often failed to understand the countryside.
He also said city-dwellers were 'obsessed' about wi-fi speeds and, unlike traditional countryside residents, didn't know how to rustle up rural classics such as potted squirrel or pickled trout.
And he urged newcomers not to criticise Prince Charles in their local pubs, saying that the royal, who has long campaigned on rural and environmental issues, was the 'countryside's poster boy'.
His comments come after wealthy Londoners fled to the countryside in their droves during the pandemic, hoovering up rural properties and purchasing second homes due to the increasing prevalence of working from home.
Londoners spent a record £54.9billion on properties outside the city last year - the highest value on record by far.
Mark Hedges, who edits the 125-year-old glossy magazine, says the Covid pandemic has sparked a 'great exodus' of city-dwellers to the countryside
In an opinion piece in The Times, the journalist, who grew up in the Cotswolds, took aim at 'newcomers' who he said held 'strong views' about rural issues such as badger culling but often failed to understand the countryside
He also claimed city-dwellers were 'obsess' about wi-fi speeds and, unlike traditional countryside residents, didn't know how to cook potted squirrel or pickle a trout
Meanwhile Taunton in rural Somerset became last year's property hotspot, seeing property prices rise by a fifth due to the huge increase in demand for country homes.
But the sudden influx of townies has led to tension with longer-term residents, who say they are being priced out of their areas.
Meanwhile, farmers have complained that townies are unaware of the rules of the countryside - though they have now been urged to 'use friendly language' towards trespassers under changes to the Countryside Code.
Addressing the conflicts in his Times piece, Mr Hedges said: 'Lockdown brought a great exodus from the cities and rural house prices rocketed.
'Some though it would be temporary; in fact, with many city workplaces adopting flexible working, it appears that much of the change is here to stay. People who were slaves to their desks have become Twats (working Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in the city.
'Not everyone is happy about this rural migration. There are two new subjects of rural conversation: Newcomers are obsessed by wi-fi speeds and everyone else by telling the newcomers who many decades they have lived there.
'The newcomers may hold strong views on badgers and the reintroduction of beavers, but unless they also know the difference between straw and hay, rooks and crows, hares and rabbits, they would be better off keeping it to themselves.'
However, Mr Hedges, who took editorship of the Hampshire-based magazine - dubbed the 'Bible of British Aristocracy' - in 2016, said there had been some positives.
He said village shops had seen a boost in sales and, in a tongue-in-cheek take on the capital's coffee culture, could 'make a fortune if they worked out how to make a latte'.
But, in a wise word of warning, Mr Hedges urged city-dwellers to keep their opinions on Prince Charles to themselves while in the country.
The future monarch, 73, has often been vocal on country and environmental issues, and even guest-edited Country Life in 2013.
And last year, in his latest call for action in the countryside, warned the 'heart will be ripped out of the British countryside' if small, family-run farms are allowed to go out of business.
Speaking about Prince Charles, he said: 'The Prince of Wales is a countryman above all. I have seen him at his happiest laying a hedge planting trees of inspecting his cattle.
'Do not, if you are a newcomer, criticise him in your local country pub. He is the countryside's poster boy.'
But, in a wise word of warning, Mr Hedges urged city-dwellers to keep their opinions on Prince Charles to themselves while in the country. The future monarch, 73, has often been vocal on country and environmental issues, and even guest-edited Country Life in 2013
Mr Hedges' comments come amid rising tension between townies and country folk following the impact of the Covid pandemic.
Londoners rushed to buy country homes and rural second homes during the pandemic, as firms allowed staff to work from home during lockdowns.
Covid lockdowns and the rise of flexible working saw a surge of Londoners travelling outside of the capital, spending a record £54.9bn on properties outside the city last year - the highest value on record by far.
However, the rush for country and second homes
