It’s April Fools… (Spoiler: we’re the fools)
For so many people, this pandemic has led to an appreciation and reconnection with the natural world.
For the last year or so, we have found ourselves outside in gardens, parks, woodlands and rivers more than ever before. Like many, I have gained a deeper appreciation for the nature around me which has provided a much-needed hiatus from being inside the same four walls since the first lockdown landed — even if I am pretty sick and tired of walking around parks now!
This past year has allowed nature not only to breathe but to showcase the health benefits it provides, even the most staunchly cynical of people have to admit to muttering “yeah, this nature stuff is actually quite nice, isn’t it?”. So, has this been a turning point for our relationship with the natural world, a moment of affection that can be built upon?
The last few days in the UK seem to have shown a worryingly answer to that question. It’s been abnormally warm, in fact, we saw the hottest March day in 53 years, and the return of the sunshine brought with it the return to past behaviour. (I’m not talking about breaches of COVID-19 rules, you can make your own minds up on that one!)
As the morning dawned, today being April Fool’s of all days, photo evidence of the nights that came before were there for all to see… and it wasn’t a pretty sight.
Rubbish, absolutely everywhere. A mixture of plastics, cans, masks, BBQ’s and pretty much anything else you can think of were littered across the UK following the warm weather this week. Our environment, which has played such a huge part in helping us all through the coronavirus pandemic over the past year, was trashed within just 3 warm Spring days.
I guess, I shouldn’t be shocked, but I find myself pretty gobsmacked.
So, as Summer approaches (and no doubt we will get much warmer temperatures again this year), how do we find a way to enjoy the spaces around us without leaving such a huge footprint behind?
For sure, the local councils have a lot more to do to provide adequate waste streams to the public and, unquestionably, the manufacturers need to be pressured to eradicate the waste they produce, but I find myself coming to the same question constantly… Why can’t everyone take home what they bring with them?
There’s no argument that if you struggled along to your local park with a box of beer, it’s a whole lot easier to take the empties home with you.
I guess I'm opening up the conversation here because I’m beginning to wonder if a global pandemic doesn’t force change, what can?
Image taken from: https://www.instagram.com/p/CNFVpdkIk1v/
