Public Service Announcement: some of us don't have gardens or any outside space

[tectonicplates]

One thing that's really got to me over the last couple of weeks is the number of people on here who just assume everyone has a garden, and that if you want to sunbathe, all you have to do is just go in the back garden. (And yes, I'm also aware of a couple of threads where people's neighbours have told them off for sunbathing in their own back gardens, and no, I haven't been sunbathing in parks, before anyone asks).

www.housebeautiful.com/uk/garden/news/a1615/gardens-considered-unattainable-luxury-for-londoners/

It's partly about the frustration of not having one in this beautiful weather when we're not allowed to sit in parks, but also about so many people's assumptions of what other people have, or how other people live.

A further important thing to add is that if you look at any figures for the percentage of people with access to gardens in a given area, very many of these gardens are shared between flats, especially in big cities. Not everyone gets on with their neighbours. I know I'm not the only one who's lived somewhere in the past where one particular household was always monopolising the garden, and were so intimidating that nobody else dared to use it.

We've been going out for a walk every day, and we're lucky enough to be able to walk to a nice park and a couple of smaller green spaces, but some people don't even have that. I'm really worried that even outdoor exercise will be banned at some point if they want a make the lockdown stronger. Who knows.

I feel desperately sorry for people without gardens, sending you all love 💕

I agree people make assumptions and don’t stop to think of the reality of this. I am hoping that one of the benefits of this situation will be increased compassion, understanding and action around the gross inequality in our society.

Says it all.

I agree with you completely.

Agreed. Have people not noticed the millions of tower blocks that have been built over the years, instead of decent sized family homes?

Awful. I know families living in tiny flats - that’s the choice they have to make to have jobs.

People cannot imagine experiences outside of their own. Emotionally defunct.

For the sake of completeness I should point out that's it's not always due to a lack of money. In some areas there are many large blocks of expensive luxury flats that (as far as I know) don't have gardens either, or that share a tiny patch of lawn between about fifty flats.

I think it's partly to do with living in flats rather than houses, although I'm sure there must be plenty of houses that don't have gardens either.

Totally agree. I don't have any outside space at all, I'm in London, zone one.

I know, it really pisses me off actually! That cartoon sums it up.

I lived in a 2 bed flat with first DD1 and then after I met DH we had DD2. All told we were there for 9 years and had no access to a garden. I can completely sympathise with those who do not have one, especially if you have young children. If we wanted to access the outside air, we went out, simple as that. Otherwise it was literally being trapped between 4 walls.

Agreed, I used to live in a houseshare in London, as much as I loved it, I have been thinking a lot at the moment about how challenging it would have been to be there at the moment. No outdoor space to pop out to, everywhere crowded because with the best will in the world there are a lot of people there! My neighbour has a huge garden as an end house, with a huge paddling pool (the ones between a paddling pool and actual swimming pool), trampoline, hot tub, gazebo area and is always moaning about the photos on FB showing people out and about, eurgh.

Agreed it’s hugely discriminatory. They need to cut teenagers some slack too.

Some of us don't have gardens or outside space AND are in countries with real lockdowns where you can't leave the house at all. (Daily exercise is a distant dream!)

My dc and I haven't seen the sun in 4 weeks now.

I agree - I'm currently also in a flat but up North with no outside space.

The only way to ensure walks outside continue is for people to FOLLOW THE RULES though. We had more deaths yesterday than Spain or Italy did at their peaks and we're not at our peak yet.

Some of us don't have gardens or outside space AND are in countries with real lockdowns where you can't leave the house at all. (Daily exercise is a distant dream!)

Yep and I'm worried that could happen here too.

We're really making the most of our daily walks at the moment while we all still can. If that's all we're allowed then believe me we are really appreciating every second of it, especially at this time of year when there are so many beautiful trees in blossom. But I'm convinced it won't last and we'll eventually be banned from doing even that.

I agree op, I am shielding with my household for 12 weeks so none of us can go for walks. However we have a garden with play equipment for the dc , and feel we are in a better position than those with no gardens that can go on daily walks.

@treenu That cartoon is so spot-on, thank you.

@Ofitck yeah I was getting a bit grumps too. 26 days two weeks to go, furthest out I’ve been is the shop two weeks ago. My dd is 2 her life is pretty boring and the most exciting thing is having a shower, every three days so yeah being stuck inside sucks but the numbers in the uk are scary and rising.

We've lived in our flat for over a decade. We have very decent indoor space conpared with the same priced houses locally and a gorgeous communal garden. Added to which we have 2 stunning parks and a nature trail less than 5 minute walk from the house.

Prior to lockdown this has always been fine, we've not really felt the lack of private garden has negatively impacted our lives.

Now we find ourselves unable to use the garden because the neightbours are treating it like a personal park having camping excursions and inviting people around for "socially distanced catch ups". If we're out there first they still take over.

I've never felt so trapped. We're lucky to be safe, well and stocked up with supplies to last a week/2 if we had to, but this is a horrible way to live. My mental health is taking a battering. I think my girls are fine but long term I hope this doesn't affect them.

EXACTLY! Many people have no garden.

I live in a one-bedroom flat with my DH, and we are lucky we have two separate rooms and our own private bathroom! We take the living room in turns as he's working from home and I've done some online yoga classes outside of office hours.

Imagine what it must be like for people living in studio flats or bedsits, or living in those awful temporary accommodation hostels.

Whilst sympathising with people with no garden, and realising that it's not always affordable/possible - particularly, I assume, in London I do think that this situation has suddenly hit home to many people that life is a trade off.

I live in a remote, rural area, near the sea - classed as a socially deprived area. Very few jobs, little 'career' opportunities, no gym or cafe culture, no real public transport and the nearest Asda is a 70 mile round trek. Life, under normal circumstances, is limited and pretty boring for many teenagers. They do not have access to many amenities and many are resentful of how much the media focuses on 'London' which is many hundreds of miles from us. The perception here is that London receives more money, concern and opportunities. No one here, for eg, really gave much of a shit about the 2012 Olympics - they were never going to be able to benefit from the huge amount of money spent or the facilities, or even afford tickets/travel/accommodation to anything. The idea that it would 'bring money in tourism' was laughable to folks round here. They watched on the tv, the same as they did with Rio and basically the experience was the same.

People make life choices, and yes - at the moment I'm sure life in cities is shitty for many. But life all year round for folks in my area means they lack many of the opportunities/experiences that city dwellers take for granted.

All I'm saying is that life is often swings and roundabouts. Some are hit much harder than others at them moment and ideas about what are necessities have changed. Suddenly, and with no other facilities open, outside space becomes a basic need.

It’s awful to think of all those children stuck inside.
I’ve been worried for ages that the huge numbers of flats being built are setting us up for a future mental health crisis. Not having access to outside space is cruel. I just didn’t expect it to arrive so soon.

Farfalla - it’s the opposite of discriminatory. It’s the same rule for everyone.

What @BlessYourCottonSocks said.