EQ1: How and why do places vary? [Case Study: Local and Contrasting Place] GapFill

Space and place are geographical concepts.  Space is the geographical area on the earth's surface, but spaces are imbued with meaning by people so that we identify these spaces as places.  When we think of different places such as Newham and Brixton in  LondonNewcastleBirminghamManchester and St Ives and Newquay in  DevonEssexCornwallHampshire, we think of different images and we have different opinions and emotions.  This sense of place is a result of many factors including the physical geography, such as economic, social, cultural, religious, environmental, historical and political factors.  For example, some places in the UK have coastal landscapes and beaches which are important for tourism as well as primary industry such as   fishingice-cream makingtourismhotels.   Tin miningDairy farmingIce cream makingRetail is another primary industry which is still important for the economy of the south-west peninsula of England.  These economic activities have maintained characteristic human-altered landscapes such as harbours and fields which help people identify this place.  Other industries have disappeared, such as   farmingretailtin miningtourism.  This has happened due to deindustrialisation and access to cheaper imports.  The loss of economic activity in the south-west of England has also created a place which people still associate with high unemployment and limited opportunities for young people which has led to out-migration of the young, economically active population, commonly known as  decentralisationemigrationthe brain draincounterurbanisation.  These social factors have altered the population pyramid for this region.  In large urban centres, however, we have seen population grow as people seek education and work.  In these vibrant economies there are large pools of labour, including many people who are highly educated and able to fill the best paying jobs in roles which are   secretarialmanagerial and professionalunskilledskilled and technical.