Penwortham

Enjoying new routes in open spaces around Penwortham

- Walk devised and described by Bob Clare

Five years ago, we were adjusting to the novel realities of the Covid 19 Pandemic. On Sunday 22nd March I wrote in my diary, "Today there were no Sunday services, no pubs, clubs, restaurants, shops and gyms and tomorrow there will be no schools open anywhere in the UK. We are moving towards total lockdown."

The following day Prime Minister Boris Johnson went on national television to give the British people the now famous instruction “Stay at Home.”

Another aspect of the first lockdown in the UK was that people could leave their homes to exercise each day. By and large given we are a nation of over 66 million there was an extraordinary degree of compliance with the restrictions and there were few instances of individual or collective defiance. Many people were just glad to get out of the house to walk, run or cycle around their neighbourhoods. For some it was a time of discovery-finding about the benefits of exercise after years of inactivity brought about by the pressures of modern living. In addition, it allowed people to properly explore their localities in a way that could surprise and delight them.