We live on a standard housing estate in a quite pretty rural area. At the end of our road is a lane which goes through the fields. In the last few years this lane has been turned into a cycle track. This was fine at first but as more and more people have got to know about it and it has been widely pushed by the council, it’s become busier and busier. Weekends had got bad enough that although I love my house, I’ve had times I’ve thought we need to move. That’s obviously not an option now.
Anyway, since the coronavirus outbreak I have never known it so busy, every day. Hundreds of cars turn up and double park all over the estate, large 4 x4s churn up all the grass verges, dog walkers bring their dogs 6 or 8 at a time, people park outside our house and let their dog poo and leave it - it’s a nightmare. It’s noisy and crowded and non stop from morning till evening. It has never been this bad.
It’s got to the point that the lane is like a busy city street in the day. You certainly couldn’t socially distance over there. There are hordes and hordes of people. All the people who can no longer go shopping are coming on a country jaunt.
DH and I are self isolating because I am quite unwell. However, we have 3 dogs who could easily be walked if the only people out were those who live here. DH could, under normal circumstances, go over there and barely see a soul. But there’s such a parade of constant people outside that he and the dogs are trapped in the house. He walks them round the estate on lead at 10pm at night when it’s dark and quiet.
So can I ask people, please think twice before flocking to all the rural places? I understand the need to get out but a walk round your own vicinity is much more considerate.