Crafty Brits take new hobbies to the countryside

Over the last year, with so many Brits spending more time at home and with little to do, old fashioned and new-age hobbies have had a renaissance. From sough dough baking to green-fingered activities in the garden, there has been a spike in new interests. People have also moved to the countryside in record numbers, searching out more space both inside and outside the house – giving more room for our newly-found creative pastimes.

Data from Cornerstone Tax shows that in the past year, over 3.3 million Brits have moved away from a city or urban area, and 44% of us now feel that the impact of Coronavirus has made living in a city less appealing. New lifestyles in the country have come with more space for hobbies – and new research from American Express Shop Small reveals that over a third (38%) of Brits have taken up at least one new hobby in an effort to keep themselves busy during lockdown, and that they are set to continue them.

In light of this, Cornerstone Tax takes a look at some of the more novel areas of the economy that have seen a boost thanks to these new activities in the countryside:

Baking treats

Everyone has a friend that has become obsessed with baking sough dough, and the figures that that person is not alone in their newly found hobby. From the first lockdown to July 2020, sale of flour went up 113.2%, and sugar almost 50% according to the Grocer. According to a study by the Alzheimer’s Society, some 38 million Brits have turned their hand to baking in the last year, with young people taking up the hobby the most.

Getting crafty:

According to research featured in The Sun, three-quarters of Brits are ‘more open’ to arts and culture than before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with photography chosen by 48%, drawing 45%, and painting by 39%. This is set to continue, with nearly two-thirds hoping to keep up their new hobby once lockdown restrictions are fully lifted.

The highstreet giant Hobbycraft said there had been “exceptional levels of customer demand” during lockdown. The company said total revenue increased by 8.9% to £193.6m, and experienced a 200% boom in online sales since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Green fingers

It is of no surprise that those who could have been gardening have been, and for those who couldn’t, they have been thinking of moving somewhere so they could. This has been a large factor in the ‘race for space’ in the property market.

For much of this year, Garden Centre visitor numbers were restricted by social distancing and outdoor garden centre catering only was permitted from April 12th. Furthermore, it was the coldest April since 1922, yet the business still boomed. Sales were up 26% up on April in 2019, which itself was +11% up on the year earlier, with the sale of outdoor plant sales up 34%.

Muddy boots

As the warm weather reaches the UK and foreign travel looks increasingly uncertain, bookings for outdoor holidays have increased by as much as 273% compared to two years ago. Campsite bookings are up by as much as 500% in some parts of the UK, according to travel agent Cool Camping. Meanwhile, Camplify, a campervan and motorhome sharing community, is predicting a record year for rentals, and it has seen a 189% increase in bookings since March 1st.

According to a survey in the Decathlon Activity Index, almost 1 in 5 (18%) Brits are now more likely to take up adventurous outdoor activities and extreme sports, compared to the start of the pandemic. The research also uncovered how attitudes to exercise have changed over the past year – of those who plan to participate in adventure sports, 23% claimed that they now love getting outdoors, which isn’t something they would have said before the pandemic.

David Hannah, co-founder of Cornerstone Tax, comments on the new pastimes Brits have found through Lockdowns:

“As the property market has intensified, many have battled to find new properties with bigger gardens and more space, for a cheaper cost now they can move away from the office. It seems that this new space may well be needed to continue all the hobbies and activities we started during Lockdown, and this looks like a trend set to continue.

Whether its growing veg in a garden, or having an office to paint in – Brits now have room to find fulfilment in a range of activities. This may be one of the better things to come out of ‘the New Normal’, and we hope to see more people painting and baking – as everyone should have hobby.”