Like thousands of others with health problems I have spent the last year or so shielding but I feel that I've been luckier than a lot of people. Where we live we have easy local access to good birding country without getting too close to other people, on many days we would be out for a couple of hours and not see anyone else. Still last Monday we were allowed to meet some others so we met up with the three grandsons, aged 4,7 and 11, outside their house and they took us for a walk round their new woods. They all moved house just before Christmas and now live a few minutes drive away from us. It felt very strange but very exciting, Chris sand myself were shattered by we left. Yesterday was the end of shielding so in the afternoon we went to our favourite reserves which at about 8 miles away we considered just too far from home to travel to while I was shielding. This seemed very strange and maybe we have lost confidence ab out being around many people even socially distanced. We did enjoy it though and no doubt we will feel happy about it soon. Today we did go back to a reserve on our doorstep and only saw six people all afternoon but plenty of Sand Martins and a small number of Swallows arrived late afternoon. Has anyone else found it strange going out again or have Chris and myself become anti social hermits ?
Absolutely fabulous that You're able to meet up with family again, after shielding for so long.
Like Nige, I too have to drive before I can get to the nearest reserve, though TBH, the two nearest reserves have long narrow footpaths, and both have reported extra high visitor numbers, so currently, they're out of bounds for me, more as a precautionary measure than anything else.
I'd like to think things will change soon and Furlough winds down, but certainly the ability to travel further is very appealing, I have quite a few accessible and quiet places, but not within my county.
So the 12th April, will be the glorious 12th for me, and many others.
A thought I will share with you, especially as your family are living closer, and as a precautionary measure should we go back in to lockdown again, have a serious look and think about making them part of your bubble.
Michael B said:the two nearest reserves have long narrow footpaths, and both have reported extra high visitor numbers, so currently, they're out of bounds for me, more as a precautionary measure than anything else.
I suspect a lot of footfall on natural areas may dwindle away once lockdown measures ease. I think folks who used to go to the Football, Rugby, Shops, Pubs etc. will fall back into their old routines.
I’m sure some will have developed a new taste for the outdoors, but I still suspect that most will go back to how it used to be for them once their old routines become available to them again.