I've got out for a walk into a local green space almost everyday. I've got to spend work time at a comfortable well-connected home desk, and I've had a decent-sized garden to retreat to between Zoom meetings and the weather has been good. I've had good company too.
 |
| Home Office |
 |
| Out in the Garden |
Aside from a few supply panics back in March, we've been able to get a lot of food and other essentials within walking distance - and we've kept a small fleet of delivery vehicles (and local businesses) busy delivering other stuff to the house.
But - and maybe there's always a but - the LockDown has got to me this week.
It's not the undoubted, and on-going, governmental incompetence and deceitfulness. It's not really any uncertainty about what happens to me next.
I have been worried for a while about how various friends will come out of this - some have health issues which are sure to be made worse, others have been furloughed (and aren't clear when or if their jobs will come back), others have already had contracts ended or have been made redundant. This worry is there all the time, but isn't new.
What has got to me this week - and I think it's the unexpectedness of it - was a news update from BBOWT - my local wildlife trust. Go and read the news update.
I had naively assumed that folks during LockDown were spending most of their time in or around their homes - and when they did briefly go out they were appreciating (and valuing) their time outside. I had also, very naively, thought that the LockDown might give the local nature reserves the chance of a relatively undisturbed few months. I had this idea that if folks stayed away the flora and fauna would have a chance to do their own thing.
 |
| C S Lewis Nature Reserve- some litter and broken trees (but I suspect someone has been collecting litter too, thank you) |
But no - it seems like, for some people at least, the LockDown has been an opportunity to cut down trees, rip up fences, destroy nesting sites and shit in the woods. What is wrong with people? I really did think that people were better than that.
Is this a generic lack of awareness about what they are doing or is it just a belief that if there isn't someone to police what they're doing they can just do anything they like?
I'd like to think that the offenders lie awake at night regretting what they've been doing, but I'm pretty sure they aren't giving it a second thought. I, however, am lying awake at night worrying about what can be done to mend the damage that has been done and how to educate people to recognise their responsibilities. Surely we don't need to extend the surveillance culture to include cameras on every nature reserve?
Do people really need to be told what they should and shouldn't be doing - or is this just part of the 'getting away with it culture'. Locally, there are many examples of trashing the landscape around nature reserves or of fly-tipping just because there's no one watching. Further afield there are stories every weekend of beaches and national parks being covered with litter (and worse) - all at a time when responsible people are staying local. It goes further up the 'food chain' - there are reports of raptors being trapped and poisoned on grouse moors on the assumption - or hope - that no one is watching. Local councils apparently relishing the opportunity to mow down wild flower meadows. HS2 are reportedly merrily trashing ancient woodlands across central England - there can be no justification of the work being 'essential' - simply because they can do it without witnesses. And our politicians are trying to get away with it too - the seemingly irresistible urge to 'sneak' out new legislation when most people just aren't watching.
Rant almost over.
There is a sign in a local house window near where I live "The Recovery Must Be Green". There is rhetoric about needing "A New Normal". We will probably never have a better opportunity to look at how we start to do things in a more sustainable way. My biggest fear is that the corporate lobbying will result in a New Normal, but that new normal won't be about a new more sustainable way - it'll just be part of a process to try and ensure that a few people will Get Richer Quick.
OK - rant over now. Will try and return to a more measured tone of voice next Friday.
 |
| Seeking Calm in Mesopotamia |
 |
| Lye Valley Orchids |
No comments:
Post a Comment