How lockdown led to Suzanne West rediscovering the Great Outdoors
Pre-pandemic, like many in the UK, I dabbled in keeping fit, using a step counter to try to reach the magic 10k steps a day, on well-trodden, same-old routes around my estate. It was only ever to reach that number and with my playlist beating an internal drum for the walk – I rarely considered my surroundings.
Then in March 2020, everything we knew and took for granted turned upside down, the pandemic took hold and a UK lockdown was announced, with Stay at Home the message, albeit with an allowance to take daily exercise.
Suddenly, walking was the only thing to do – it represented some freedom, a break from the monotony of four walls and an escape from the boredom. It was now a treat to be savoured.
My walks became a chance to relax, take stock of life, have those long conversations with my partner and family that we never made time for, explore the beautiful surrounding area where I live and walk in nature as never before.
The summer lockdown brought fantastic weather and walks to a place called Caesar’s Camp where we could take in the amazing sunrises, setting us up ready for another beautiful day. I knew about this area as my children had, long ago, trained for a ‘Yorkshire Three Peaks’ school challenge. But I had never walked there myself and was caught unaware of the size of the area and that Caesar’s Camp is an Iron Age hillfort sitting on the Surrey/Hampshire border.
New favourite walks included Farnham Park with its elevations and amazing views across the Surrey hills, and Fleet pond – another local place rediscovered from when the children were young and wanted to pond dip and climb trees, rarely visited since their teenage years.
Another rewarding part of lockdown was a new connection with wildlife – not only deer and foxes, but also the majestic heron lording it over the local nature reserve pond. And the incredible birdsong became a new soundtrack, previously masked by the hustle and bustle of traffic. Who knew there were so many natural sounds, so many beautiful plants and flowers? How had I never noticed this before?
So here we are, a year on and it’s nearly all over. The road map out of lockdown is in place, the vaccines are being rolled out and we will soon be back to some kind of ‘normal’. And I do crave for family gatherings, socialising, the hugs and the people.
But I won’t leave behind my lockdown discoveries. No more the boring footpath with my head down and my mind zoned out. Daily walks where I take in and appreciate my surroundings have become my ‘new normal’.
Spring is coming, life renews. There are a pair of swans gliding around the pond and I’m waiting for the heron to return.
