Can I drive 5 miles to walk in the woods?

[R2221]

Just that really. We’ve been isolating for over a week and these woods are the only thing that kept us sane. Isolated woods - not many people there. Those we came across were mindful of distance.

With the current lockdown rules, are we allowed to drive there?

I’m in the edge of NT open space. The car park had four cars in it this morning when I drove by to go to the shop. It’s not overcrowded here. Few people driving here either. The woods adjacent to me are empty.

They aren't guidelines. The Coronavirus legislation has been passed, and it grants police special powers to issue fines or arrests as they see fit.

All the "Karens" of this world, wanting to speak to their superiors, are in for a nasty surprise. I should imagine they'll have pretty short shrift after a couple of weeks of this.

All the "Karens" of this world,

You lost any credibility the moment you said this. It’s lazy and juvenile and makes you sound like a twat.

At least I don't sound like an entitled twat. That's the main thing.

Karen.

BubblesBuddy
That's probably because most people are staying away and staying at home. They embracing the reality of the situation and recognising that their wants and preferences don't trump the need to slow the spread of the virus.

It's amazing how much time on call ins and questions on BBC news seem to boil down to 'but do I count in this rule? Am I an exemption? Technically can I half follow the rules?'

It made me laugh that on the front of the pedestal for the news conferences now says "stay at home" instead of the NHS address and there's reminders on TV saying "stay at home". It's almost like when it's broken into 3 words some people don't get it.

Looking at the legislation, it hinges on what is reasonable excuse. Exercise is reasonable excuse, but how and how far it is reasonable to travel for this is open to interpretation. Is it reasonable to travel 5 minutes away by car from your home but still very much in your local area to exercise and better achieve social distancing if it is not reasonable to walk? Possibly. Is it reasonable to travel 10-30 minutes or more by car away from your home and into a different area to exercise? Probably not. I say 'probably not' with some confidence because the latest government guidelines clearly state that we should be out of our homes for the minimum time necessary to achieve the permitted activity. It is reasonable to assume that this guideline will be used, for example by the police, in order to add clarity to the legislation and in their enforcement decisions.

Did anyone see Dr Jenny Harries on today's Downing Street briefing talk about the importance of using your exercide allocation so as to maintain good menatal and physical health?

Lifted from another thread, but pertinent, I feel

I would 5bh.. like you I'm terrified of taking my kids out in the centre of the town... or even out on my street.. my 1yo touches everything... so I personally will be driving to the woods to walk them... luckily we are quite rural so its nit even five mins away but I'm not walking them there thru the streets... I think that's crazy.. we all need to be spread out but within our own town boundaries etc... if you have to drive a little bit to find some space to exercise the doing that is safer than getting close to people

The other point under the legislation which allows the police to act is to prevent gatherings of more than 2 people who are not living in the same household. If people are travelling in hordes to the National Parks, beauty spots and beaches and are not observing social distancing, or are going there in such numbers that it is or would be impossible to observe social distancing - as has been seen in Snowdonia, Devon and Cornwall, North Yorkshire, the Peak District and so on - then the police would be within their rights to turn people back or send them home, to disperse them and fine them if necessary. It is a great shame that it has come to this, but it has.

You must take your exercise directly from your own doorstep. Not drive somewhere then take your exercise

NO WE WILL BE WATCHING YOU. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

@SnoozyLou

I didn't get the Karen memo.

Karen

I guess dogging is out of the question then ?

Round here they’ve locked shut all the car parks by woods and nature reserves and police are stopping cars and telling them to go home if they’re taking the dog for a walk/ driving to have their exercise My dm was turned back from driving to Lidl this morning (about 15 mins away) and told to do her big shop at Sainsbury’s instead (5-10 minutes away)

Total abuse of the powers they've been given, they were not intended to be used in this way.

“I guess dogging is out of the question then”

😂😂😂
Thanks for that, Vera 99. Much welcome laugh out loud.

Surely, if it was a local site, all had walked there, the participants were from the same household, it was all over quite quickly and the observers observed social distancing, then it would be allowed as exercise, vera99?

I think the enjoyment of dogging would be dulled somewhat if you could only include members of your own household. Also I think a car is a bit of a necessity isn’t it? It’s probably not quite the same if you all turn up with torches to signal other doggers. I always assumed it was just a swinging thing. If it’s the observation that provides the thrill then perhaps it could still continue in these uncertain times.

@GinnyStrupac I'm no expert on these things but the way you frame it, it might just squeeze past the guidelines. One can imagine the Daily Heil headlines though as we go 'looking for badgers'.

@NastyOldBag I'll defer to your greater wisdom in these matters. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3860225-Please-can-we-talk-about-using-the-name-Karen-as-an-insult?msgid=95044435

For SnoozyLou and vera99

You’re welcome.

vera99 I’m afraid my wisdom comes from a combination of articles written about Stan Collymore in the early noughties and working at an RSPB reserve with an easily accessible car park (working early Sunday mornings in midsummer was a grim experience).

Stay in your local area. The small woodland next to my house is heaving with people who have driven from elsewhere- so now where am I meant to go?

Stay home. Don’t drive. Exercise in your local area.

Oh thanks we needed a bit of a 😂

We normally don’t see a soul dog walking except for maybe one of our fellow dog walkers a couple times a week (two walks a day here); now each walk it’s at least fifteen GROUPS of people who don’t even have the courtesy to step to one side

I guess dogging is out of the question then?

😂