United Kingdom

United Kingdom covers about 243,000 km² and consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Its landscape includes lowland plains in southern England, uplands in Wales and northern England, and more rugged mountainous regions such as the Scottish Highlands. The UK has a temperate maritime climate with mild temperatures and regular rainfall, supporting agricultural activity.

Historically, agriculture played a major role in the economy, particularly before industrialisation. The agricultural revolution of the 18th century modernised farming and increased productivity. Today, the primary sector contributes less than 1% of GDP, reflecting the dominance of services and industry. However, around 70% of the land is used for agriculture. Crop farming includes wheat, barley and oilseed rape, mainly in lowland areas. Livestock farming is especially important in upland regions, with cattle and sheep widely raised for meat and dairy production.

Forests cover about 13% of the UK’s territory, though woodland expansion has increased in recent decades.

The UK’s extensive coastline supports marine fisheries, including species such as cod and mackerel.

Overall, the UK’s primary sector reflects its varied landscape: arable farming in fertile lowlands, livestock in upland areas and fisheries along its coasts. Despite its small economic share, agriculture, forestry and fishing remain important for food production and rural landscapes.

Gerold first visited the United Kingdom in 1996 for an EQULFA project meeting in Ayr, followed by another meeting in the Loch Lomond region. In 1999, Gerold travelled through England and Scotland with Klaudia and their children, combining camping and B&B stays. During this trip, the family spent a week with Jerry Laker. Further professional visits followed, including meetings in Wales and London in 2005 with Alexander Müller, and an eco-conference in Edinburgh in 2006. In 2007, Gerold returned to London with Klaudia and the children. In 2009, Gerold participated in the kick-off meeting of the EU project LowInputBreeds in Newcastle. Additional visits included stopovers at Heathrow Airport in 2014 and a day in London in 2017 with Klaudia, visiting cultural sites such as the Natural History Museum.