5 things we should keep from this year #earthday2020

Keep anything from lockdown? Why would we do that? Surely that kind of sentiment is only for the privileged, those for whom Coronovirus lockdown enables them not to worry about income; paying the mortgage; illness; finding food in understocked and overcrowded supermarkets; working a full day at home while homeschooling kids - instead they are extolling the virtues of having the time and money to stay at home while learning a new language; making sourdough and having time to grow tomatoes in their vast gardens.  

On the 50th Anniversary of Earthday - the annual day dedicated to environmental action - there are environmentally positive impacts this time is forcing upon us.  Impacts that we should learn from and try to keep hold of afterwards. Less pollution from a worldwide reduction in transport and fewer humans in wild areas are already allowing the skies to clear, pollution to decrease and wild animals to enjoy the freedom of space we deny them. It is also making clear to humans how much we need nature for our own physical and mental health.

The Forest School movement has been responsible for increasing access to outdoor spaces in the UK since it became popular in the early 2000s.  I was one of the first directors of the Forest School Association and was there at its formation with the Institite of Outdoor Learning . Accessibility for ordinary teaching staff (or superhero teachers as they currently are) to take children confidently into the outdoors in the rebellious child-led un-education that is Forest School has been one of the reasons why I'm so fascinated with it.  We are facilitating the next generation to have a deep personal relationship with the outdoors, one that is not prescribed by an adult.  Children and young people cannot value what they do not experience, and long term Forest School programmes, developing relationships with a simple local piece of woodland has shown huge changes in positive views towards the natural world; and emotional and physical wellbeing.  

I often work with children and young people from deprived socio-economic backgrounds, and I know how important positive experiences in the outdoors are to them. A lack of public transport to outdoor areas and social housing a long way from public outdoor spaces makes access to the outdoors very difficult.  Often they rely on their support workers being able to take them back to the outdoors when they are unable to cope and need a boost to their mental health.  
 
Adult experience with this time of coronovirus lockdown is similarly allowing us to re-evaluate what we most value right in our neighborhoods - the simple green spaces around us.  News reports of people desperate to get outside and spend time in nature is showing us that whatever background we are from, we want to fight for a positive relationship with the environment. We need the natural environment. And that is the goal of Earth Day. 

 5 things we should keep from this year #earthday2020

1. We value our outdoor spaces. Access to local outdoor natural spaces has kept us sane, whatever socio-economic background we are from and especially for everyone who does not have equal access to a garden or outdoor space.  When this is over, getting involved in local groups who protect and campaign for local greenspaces and cycle route access may be one of the most valuable lessons we can take. #fieldsintrust #sustrans #earthday #greenpeace #openspacessociety

 

1. We value our local food producers. From farm shops, neighbourhood chickens, flour producers, local milk, allotments, veg patches and garden centres.  We need local food – if we are trying to reduce car travel and work from home local shops and food help us do this and benefits the environment. #farmshops #localfood #airmiles #allotments 

 

1. Reduce, reuse,  recyle.  Neighborhood toy and book swaps; tool swaps; wood recycling; library of things - all of these initiatives are making the most of what we have instead of buying more.  We’ve been forced to to reduce, reuse and recycle during this time and we’ve realised that we don’t need to buy as much, reducing our impact on the planet even more. #reducereuserecyle 

 

1. Volunteer.  A huge heartwarming volunteer army is helping our key workers, NHS,  and community needs.  Most people I’ve spoken to during this time have said they’ve loved the sense of community created in our towns and villages.  Every country has heartwarming volunteer stories to tell, from shopping for the vulnerable, cooking food for neighbours, sending care packages to making PPE for health workers.  We should embrace our ability to do good in the world through volunteering and how good it makes us feel. #volunteer

 

1. Educate.  Large numbers of people are using this time to learn new skills or further their knowledge.  When you further your own education you help others understand the importance of natural resources. There are fantastic free online videos and guides from outdoor leaders and more official education sources such as the open university popping up everywhere teaching everthing from gardening to foraging to ecology.  If you have the capacity, this is a fantastic time to educate ourselves and others on the lessons we are learning about caring for ourselves and the planet.  Conversely, there is no need to feel pressure to join a course or learn a new skill.  This is a time of survival, not free time off work.  Simply passing on the joy of seeing spring blossoms in the street may be all the teaching we need. #educate #joy #nature #earthday