My county has closed all country parks from midnight

[DoubleAction]

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!

Ylvamoon yes, I often run around the industrial estate too but it will be much busier from now on.

So where are people supposed to go for this outdoor exercise that we're still being told is recommended?

You need to think laterally.

There are golf courses near me which are surrounded by side roads that are tree-lined and don't have loads of traffic. If you time your run/walk well then you will meet no one. (Though you may see a couple of police cars). If you time it badly you will pass up to 6 other people.

The pictures of the crowded car parks in the tourist areas of Wales.... yes, it's a nice day and probably everyone said let's meet up and go for a walk, but clearly didn't have the sense of urgency to realise the ensuing crowd is a fucking awful idea and get away from it.

When MNetters said if the schools are shut idiots will take long weekend holidays in tourist areas I thought that was ridiculously negative, that people wouldn't be that stupid. Oh boy were they right.

Jaxhog - yep that’s what I think. But apparently we are in the minority. ..

Of course there are alternatives but more people will be using all of them if they can't use the parks.

Plus golf courses really aren't safe places. One is the reason by DFather has no front teeth!

If you time you walk/run properly, like I did yesterday you don't see anyone in the country parks either.

If this is Essex, it was inevitable really. Just look at the pictures on the news today. With children not at school, you can guarantee hundreds of them would be flocking to the Gruffalo or Stick Man trails. There are lots of public footpaths going across farmland etc.

It was too busy everywhere this weekend. Chester Zoo, Snowdonia, the NT parks. Everything. People shouldn’t have been making the most of the nice weather or Mother’s Day... they probably were, but they shouldn’t have been. It was so busy near us that everyone was a lot closer than normal. Photos on Facebook showed that places were busier than during the summer holidays.

Maybe it would have calmed down, or maybe it wouldn’t. It’s fairly irresponsible of the companies to keep the areas open to wait and see. There’s a lot of people who aren’t working as they are stay at home parents, or can’t work from home. They might decide to take their kids out. It might still be crazy.

Given that it seems we can’t easily go into lockdown; we may well need to force it by not having anywhere open for people to go.

I know outdoor places have been (too) busy this weekend but that was because of a particular set of circumstances

And next weekend it will be another set of circumstances which means everyone must go to the park 🤔

The reason councils etc have to take such drastic is action is because too many people think their circumstances exempt them from the guidance

Givenchy, that would be good - but people just don’t seem to get the message - 2 meters apart applies where ever you are.
People were in large rambler style packs along our canal today - not what social distancing means!
I was called a snob, because I refused to move nearer to a walker asking for directions .. he was leaning over my garden gate and I was in my garden. I’m a key worker and asthmatic.....

Why does no one listen? Yes everywhere was too busy today so that needs to be managed but we are still being advised to get outside, only now into fewer spaces. If that advise had changed, this would make sense, but it hasn't, it was reiterated only a couple of hours ago.

Parks weren't over crowed yesterday and they won't be tomorrow. When they are, that should be managed.

Everything on Anglesey has closed today, beaches, country parks and caravan parks.
I support this.

Very sensible of them.

I think you’re underestimating how many people are around during the day even on a normal weekday. Retired people, sahms, shift workers etc. Now we have most of the children off school and somebody is looking after them so you’d have groups of friends meeting up tomorrow in country parks.

People can get fresh air and exercise in the streets near their homes, this is all they’re allowed to do now in some European countries.

First sensible thing ive heard this weekend

I support it. North wales has been heaving this weekend. I can promise that a normal sunny weekend in march is never this busy. People were taking the piss. Now it has been taken away. Maybe people will learn the lesson. You can walk anywhere it doesnt have to be a park. Beaches and parks heaving round here, loads of lovely walks still available. If people were less selfish then this wouldnt have happened

Why does no one listen?

Exactly!

The advice is to maintain distance yet people are going for fucking picnics in parks and on beaches

They’re not listening

Hence parks will shut because too many people think they’re above the rules

Plenty of public footpaths to the middle of nowhere where I live. Semi rural however.

Cities are difficult, the parks need to be open in London to absorb some of the people.

OP - Of course they'll be overcrowded tomorrow if it's a nice day, all the schools are shut, lots of people won't be at work because cafés, pubs and restaurants are closed. People aren't taking this seriously enough.

There is no choice as idiots are not following the rules. Who cares if the sun is shining? If the parks heaving and the car park full you don’t get out of your car

It's just getting depressing now. I know we need to prevent people getting the virus but at the expense of what? The whole nations physical and mental health compromised? I've got 3 boys and they need to go outdoors. We've got a small garden but it's not enough. If they don't allow us on open green spaces soon I'm going to become very depressed.

We need to slow down the rate if infection if people dont adhere to social distancing then these places are going to be shut. What other choice is there?

They could manage the numbers or restrict the parking?

A few people are ruining it for the many.

Vast open spaces here but a couple of families refused to exercise common sense and merrily walked 4 abreast on narrow paths when passing us. Staggeringly reckless and dangerous.

I wish limiting the parking spaces would work but round here the car park was full so people just parked on the road. It was really stupid and dangerous. Cars lining roads that are not wide at the best of times. If people cant be sensible this is what will happen.

Very sensible! This is what has to happen if people can't follow government advice. My local council have closed all country parks and playgrounds as of tonight - I think all councils in Wales have.

They are going to have to ration going outside!