Love is in the country air – if you are over 45

Country dwellers are the partner of choice for men and women over 45, according to a new Valentines’ Day survey.

The survey, by rural insurer NFU Mutual, revealed that almost three times as many men and women aged over 45 would favour seeing a country type to a city dweller.

However, preferences are reversed in lower age groups with more than three times as many people aged between 18 and 24 looking for an urban partner rather than a country one.

“There’s a real problem for young people in the countryside to find a partner,” said spokeswoman Laura Wood.

“As an insurer of rural homes, businesses and farms we are well aware of the problems country people experience finding a partner – particularly in remote areas – and conducted the survey to understand rural and city attitudes.

“We found that people fit into two distinct types: CHINOS – cool, high income night owls – and CORDS – country-orientated rural dwellers.

“CHINOS, typically under 35, favour better shops and restaurants and believe that urban partners are more sophisticated than their country cousins. But CORDS are definitely the choice of the over 35s who rate their rural lifestyle highly. There is praise for the peace, quiet and simplicity of country living and the fact that there is a lower emphasis on status.

“A good tip for young country men seeking a partner is to emphasise your ‘green’ credentials, as 41% of women highlight embracing a greener lifestyle as an attraction of a country man.”

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