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Related: Lockdown Learning, discuss home schooling during lockdown.
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My county has closed all country parks from midnight
DoubleAction · 22/03/2020 18:41
This seems ridiculous to me.
I know outdoor places have been (too) busy this weekend but that was because of a particular set of circumstances. The first good weekend in ages coinciding with mothers days and family plans being disrupted because of the restaurants closing.
By tomorrow they will be back to normal - even people not at work are working from home won't be out and about.
We've been advised we should continue to get exercise outdoors, now we have far fewer places to do it in, which makes the people density higher!
BubblesBuddy · 22/03/2020 18:45
My DDs local park in London is closing. Just streets to walk around now.
itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted · 22/03/2020 18:49
It's because the visitors numbers have been astronomical and social distancing can't be managed
CalleighDoodle · 22/03/2020 18:51
But then it will be a nice saturday. And then it will be bank holiday. Then it will be easter.
There’s always a reason. And always people who think the rules dont apply to them.
DoubleAction · 22/03/2020 18:52
Yes I know but that's on a sunny mother's day when the restaurants were shut with no notice. It won't be like that next weekend when I want to run in the rain 
Bargebill19 · 22/03/2020 18:53
Same in Leicestershire apparently. People not following the guidelines of social distancing. The authorities are going to be castigated whatever way they go... keep them open and it’ll be they are killing people by sending mixed messages, close them and they will be infringing your human right.
If people employ social distancing, then it wouldn’t have happened.
Boris has just earned tougher measures could be used.
DoubleAction · 22/03/2020 18:53
People out and about today didn't break the rules. They followed them, they just didn't realise the entire world would be there too.
twinnywinny14 · 22/03/2020 18:55
People will continue as most are advised to work from home and lots will have children at home too. This is a good thing
DoubleAction · 22/03/2020 18:56
Why is it sensible? We're still being told to exercise outdoors, now we have fewer places to go so will be closer together 
GivenchyDahhling · 22/03/2020 18:56
In Essex here too. I went to one of the big ones today so my baby could have some fresh air (no garden) and yes, it was busy but it’s also big enough for people to give each other loads of space and they were doing so on the occasions we passed them. This is a huge u-turn as yesterday they were advertising it was free parking so come and get fresh air, and today they’ve obviously been spooked by how busy the car parks etc were (cafe/gift shop closed).
The fact is today would always be busy - sunny, Mother’s Day, first nice day of the year etc.
To me it seems to completely contradict was Johnson said tonight - people are “allowed” to get exercise and need to walk their dogs, and this will just send them to more crowded pavements/streets.
DoubleAction · 22/03/2020 18:59
Maybe that's it Givency. With free parking and the cafes closed there's no money in it for them 
Bargebill19 · 22/03/2020 19:00
But it’s a warning - people weren’t sensible, so this was taken away... if people refuse to comply, then the next step is to follow Europe into their lockdown policy.
No different than taking a toy away from a misbehaving child.
GivenchyDahhling · 22/03/2020 19:03
@Bargebill19 From what I saw today people were being sensible. But that’s not to say they were in the children’s playground/Gruffalo Trail (I intentionally didn’t go near those areas as I thought maybe they would be busier) - in which case; just close those bits and leave the huge open park for those of us willing to be sensible and heed government advice.
DontCallMeShitley · 22/03/2020 19:08
People here are complaining that they have gone for a walk, distancing themselves appropriately and have runners coming up close and blowing on them as they pass, rather than move off the path to go round them.
Best to close them if people are going to be selfish arses.
nicky7654 · 22/03/2020 19:11
I feel sorry for people who arnt close to countryside or beaches. I am lucky to be able to walk my dogs around the fields or beach daily. It's a terrible shame the NT are closing and making it nearly impossible to get exercise and fresh air.
Jaxhog · 22/03/2020 19:12
Same in Leicestershire apparently. People not following the guidelines of social distancing. The authorities are going to be castigated whatever way they go... keep them open and it’ll be they are killing people by sending mixed messages, close them and they will be infringing your human right.
No value to having human rights if you're dead.
DoubleAction · 22/03/2020 19:15
So where are people supposed to go for this outdoor exercise that we're still being told is recommended?
FWIW I ran in a country park early yesterday and barely saw a soul, certainly didn't breathe on anyone.
I cycled on the road today, as I guessed the parks would be full of dogs people.
DoubleAction · 22/03/2020 19:19
If I was told I should stay indoors, I would do so, but I haven't been.
SisterFarAway · 22/03/2020 19:24
I went to Richmond Park today for a walk as I often do, it was heaving. People having picnics with their friends, big groups of cyclists and runners. Quite the opposite of "social distancing".
Ylvamoon · 22/03/2020 19:26
So where are people supposed to go for this outdoor exercise that we're still being told is recommended?
We have a big industrial estate 5 min walk away from our home... been there yesterday/ today & walk dogs every day... it's never busy has a few green spaces and a bicycle path. Not as scenic as a park but it will do.
BackforGood · 22/03/2020 19:26
Does seem a bit of an odd decision - I'm inclined to agree with you OP.
We've been out for an hour both today and yesterday (not to a COuntry Park or National Park, just around our local streets, and across two different parks). Yes, lots of people were out, but not crowding. Everyone was in plenty of space and sensibly standing back from one another at gates / narrow parts of a path.
Not everybody has their own garden, but everyone needs some air and exercise.
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