From foraging to birdwatching: People share the outdoor activities they adopted in lockdown
After a year when many hobbies or plans were put on ice, Isabelle Aron speaks to those who’ve embraced being in nature during lockdown
Over the last year, there’s a good chance you’ve spent a lot more time in the great outdoors than usual. Lockdown restrictions have meant that with everything closed, a walk has been one of the only things to do. In fact, it was practically government-mandated during the heady days of once-daily exercise.
There’s also the fact that, when it comes to transmission of the coronavirus, being outdoors is generally less risky than being indoors, because of increased ventilation, which has led to earlier easing on outdoor socialising.
It’s no wonder, then, that we’ve all embraced more outdoor activities – whether that is just being committed to your daily loop of the block or local park, or taking it further to growing vegetables, hiking, or taking up new outdoor sports like running (Couch to 5k downloads skyrocketed last July).
Figures from the government’s People and Nature Survey show that in July 2020, 67 per cent of adults in England said they had spent time outside in green and natural spaces in the previous two weeks. The survey showed a steady monthly increase from 49 per cent in April, up to 60 per cent in May and 65 per cent in June. Interestingly, this hasn’t waned much, even in the colder winter months. Figures from January show the figure was still almost two thirds of the population (61 per cent).
It’s not just being outside, either – people are actively engaging in outdoor activities more. Stats from The Ramblers, Britain’s leading walking charity, show that it has seen a 30 per cent increase in new members in the second half of 2020, compared to the same time in 2019.
For many, being outside and in nature has been a much-needed escape. Some people have even taken up new outdoorsy hobbies that they’d never done before. The Independent speaks to four people about how the pandemic prompted them to embrace new outdoorsy activities.
Foraging: Kiera Nazarin, 26, Bournemouth
“I’ve always been a bit of a city girl. Before lockdown, going for walks in the forest was not an exciting thing for me. I was living in the Midlands in a two-bedroom flat – I didn’t really go into nature, I’d never been foraging.
But in autumn last year, I moved in with a friend who’s really into wild mushrooms. Because there’s literally been nothing else to do this year apart from go on walks, we’ve been going on walks in the forest and identifying mushrooms. I also joined some Facebook groups and started learning about what was in season and what dangerous lookalikes there could be.
The first thing I ever foraged were parasol mushrooms, which I like because they’re really easy to identify and there’s nothing poisonous that looks like them. I was nervous about mushrooms to start with because I thought everything was a death trap.
Having a reason to get out of the house has been powerful. Going on walks gets boring but when you’re walking to find food, it’s exciting and you’re learning as you go. I’m nowhere near as cool as I used to be – now when I go for a walk I have my pockets filled with mesh bags and I always carry my pen knife.
I’ve made wild garlic pesto and panko breadcrumb mushrooms. Right now I’m pickling some magnolia petals, which taste like sushi ginger. It feels good to go out and find your own food and learn about it. You’ve gone to the effort to pick it so you cook it really nicely and don’t waste an ounce of it, because it’s so special to you.”
Birdwatching: Nnena Nwakodo, 27, London
“I’m quite an outdoorsy person and I love going on walks. My mum and grandma always knew all the birds and would always talk about them but I never really knew a call or would be able to spot one – and then Flock Together [a bird watching group for people of colour which formed last year] came along.
I went on my first walk with Flock Together last summer. I was excited to be there but I found it frustrating at first. I was looking through my binoculars in the direction everyone else was looking but it was hard to focus, especially when it’s your first go. But it was such an encouraging group that I stuck with it. Day-to-day, I move at a fast pace. I had a realisation that I needed to slow down. The whole point is to be patient and enjoy the journey. It was so rewarding after that.
I thought a bird watching group would be really serious or just about birds but it’s so much more than that. It’s a community and a safe space specifically for people of colour.
Identifying birds is the most amazing feeling. Before, I couldn’t even tell you the difference between a crow and a gull and now I’m identifying all these birds. It’s amazing seeing how far I’ve come.
Nature has helped me through a very difficult year and birdwatching has elevated it. With birding, you’re not on your phone, it’s just you and the binoculars. It’s a time to escape your thoughts, because you’re just focusing on this one thing, everything else goes away. It’s been my saviour this last year.”
Gardening: Shaun Mallows-Redman, 38, Somerset
“If you’d have told me a year ago that I’d have two allotment plots and I’d be growing more than 70 different things, I’d have said you needed help! But in June last year, my wife bought me a tiny, flimsy greenhouse for my birthday. I got some seeds and when they started growing, I knew it was something I wanted to continue. I had a harvest of tomatoes and the taste was like nothing I’ve had from a supermarket. Being able to pick it and eat it a few minutes later means I know exactly where it’s been.
After growing a few things, a friend said I should get an allotment. I laughed it off, but she put me in touch with a local community site. When I got a call in October last year saying that the plot was available, I was excited and wanted to sign the lease as soon as I could. My second allotment plot came as a surprise. I was thinking ahead to next year when I enquired at a different site, thinking I would go on a waiting list, but they had a plot available and I just couldn’t say no.
The allotment has given me somewhere to escape to. Even in winter, I’ve turned up, flask of tea in hand and cracked on. There’s something magical about being there for the sunrise and listening to the birds while it’s -3c degrees and there’s frost on the grass. It’s given me a focus through the cold, dark months of lockdown. Being at one with nature helps me clear my head and I’ve learned a lot.
Both of my grandfathers enjoyed gardening. I would spend hours watching them when I was younger. I like to think I’m carrying on where they left off – I even have the garden fork one of them used.
I’ve never really been much of an outdoor person, but I’ve never had the chance. Now, I’m grabbing it with both hands – and I’m loving it.”
Walking: Flavia Stefanini, 27, Inverness
“I struggled with lockdown because I was already a bit lonely. I moved from Brazil to Glasgow in 2018 and then to Inverness in 2019 and I didn’t really have any friends here. I live with my partner but he’s away for work a lot.
We got a dog before lockdown and I realised that I enjoyed walking, but I had no one to walk with and I didn’t know where to go. Then, in October last year, the Ramblers page randomly popped up in my Facebook feed. I found out more about it and signed up for the Out There Award which is a course where you learn about access rights, navigation skills and how to plan a walk. It was only a couple of days but doing the course meant I went from knowing nobody to meeting other people who enjoyed walking.
It sounds cliche but I do feel that I’m part of a community now – I have so many friends and they’re from everywhere – Scotland, France, Asia, America. They all moved here and they didn’t know anyone either, but now we’ve formed this whole group – and all because of the pleasure of walking.
Walking has made me feel healthier, not only in my body but also in terms of my mental health. It’s completely changed my perception of lockdown. Before, I was thinking that I couldn’t do anything, I couldn’t go anywhere. But going for a walk doesn’t involve anything that’s been closed.
Being from Brazil, I’m used to living somewhere where the weather’s always great. Living here, I never wanted anything to do with the outdoors – I thought it wasn’t for me. But now I consider myself quite outdoorsy. I’m not a very fit person, but you don’t need to walk up hills or climb mountains to be outdoorsy – you can be outdoorsy by just going for a walk.”
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