Developers would no longer have to build on brownfield sites, but could use pastures, valleys, coastline and rolling fields to put up their executive homes.

I walked through miles of rolling fields full of ripening barley and wheat to get there, thinking, rather hopelessly, that the quails might have moved into any of them.

People with means are becoming as enthusiastic about waking up in a home that looks out over spires, office blocks and traffic as over rolling fields.

The early-morning view from my hotel room was of dry-stone walls and rolling fields haloed with mist.

The rolling fields, still grazed by sheep for half the year, were part of the reason his tenants lived there.