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When did farming become common in Britain and Scandinavia?

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Farm in Saskatchewan — Origins of agriculture Harvesting wheat on a farm in the grain belt near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. A potash mine appears in the distant background.

The adoption of farming in Britain and Scandinavia was a gradual process that occurred significantly later than in southeastern Europe, where agriculture was established shortly after 7000 bce.1

Britain

In Britain, the transition to agriculture began around 4000 bce, driven by the arrival of Neolithic immigrants. While there is evidence of forest clearance as early as 4700 bce, widespread evidence for agricultural settlements and monuments does not appear until 4000 bce. These early farmers were both pastoralists and tillers of the soil, and their arrival marked a major shift in the region's social and economic structure.21

Scandinavia

The spread of farming into northern Europe, including southern Scandinavia, occurred after a long interval of contact between agriculturalists and indigenous hunter-gatherers. Domesticated crops and animals were introduced to the region about 4200 bce, seemingly following a decline in the availability of marine food resources. By the 4th millennium bce, farming had become the mainstay of subsistence, and the population began constructing large megalithic tombs.13