In late January 2020, I was staying in a pub in Stainforth, halfway through a Yorkshire Dales walk. It was Chinese New Year, and there was a Chinese Banquet on offer. My comment on my post that day – “There was talk in the bar of a new virulent virus spreading in China“
That virus crept up on us. And by March, we were locked down, a new addition to the dictionary. Perhaps, in hindsight, we should have reacted sooner, but as they say, hindsight is a wonderful thing; foresight is what is needed.
It started slowly.
30 January – The first two cases of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom are confirmed: two Chinese nationals staying in York.
4 March. The total number of confirmed cases 27.
5 March. The first death from COVID-19 in the UK is confirmed, as the number of cases exceeds100.
10 March. HM Government allows the Cheltenham Festival to go ahead.
16 March. PM says, “Now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact and travel”
19 March. PM says the UK can “turn tide of coronavirus” in 12 weeks.
20 March. Cafes, pubs and restaurants to close.
23 March, PM announces lockdown in the UK, ordering people to “stay at home”
16 April. Lockdown extended for ‘at least’ three weeks.
30 April. PM says, “We are past the peak” of the pandemic.
Two metres social distancing. Work from Home. Eat out to help out. Rule of six. Face masks. Three Tier System. And so it went on with second and third lockdowns.
Looking back at my posts, I started to self-isolate in February 2020. I was in a vulnerable group for various reasons and was thinking ahead of the government. My walking became restricted to my immediate locality, but I still valued daily exercise. I was lucky that on my doorstep was accessible countryside, and I made the best of local footpaths, avoiding most people.
Today, I revisited one of those local walks. What has changed in five years?
Most evidently, there is a significant housing development on this side of town. Inglewhite Meadows is its ironic name.
As I walk away from town, more expensive bungalows are lining Inglewhite Road. 
Have a read and compare photos from five years ago. https://bowlandclimber.com/2020/04/20/a-bitter-taste-in-my-mouth/
These new stiles have started to appear around the district.
I am glad to get onto the quieter Ashley Lane. Even here, two ‘executive houses’ have been completed and occupied. There is no such thing as a green belt any more; anything goes. Just follow the money.
At last, I’m in the fields, and all is peace and quiet, just as it was in lockdown. Not many people use these paths anymore. I follow my instincts and eventually hit the footbridge across the stream, Mill Brook. There was once a mill further downstream near Goosnargh. 
The farmer sees fit to dump his waste in the field.
March Hares are popping up all over the place, and in the trees, the starlings are preparing for a murmuration I only just briefly catch..
Going back on myself, I recross the stream and head up to the waterboard pumphouse. From up here, the hills are reassuringly the same.
The Bowland Hills.
Longridge Fell.
Now enclosed by a new fence, I head towards the road. I’m sure these two were here before. https://bowlandclimber.com/2021/01/18/a-quiet-sunday/
The stile onto the busy road is lethal; you are in danger of stepping straight into the traffic.
I stroll back home, three miles completed and glad of the freedom we now enjoy. But could it all happen again?
I’ve enjoyed reading back through my old posts from that period and how we all managed.
***
I never really thought about it before Covid as I’ve done these many times but there are nine different walks I can do from my own front door, most of them in rural areas/countryside, and during the lockdowns I saw hardly anyone. Oddly yesterday I got notification of a new post but it was from April 2020, I presume that was a mistake?
I also received an email link to that older post about Covid and also concluded it was an error.
I wonder if we have learnt anything from the whole affair? Informed sources say that it is only a question of time before something similar happens again, I wonder if we will be any more prepared?
No idea where that April 2020 link came from.
How easy to forget all this stuff, but reading this brought it all back. There’s a walk I used to do a lot from my doorstep but haven’t done since things began to open up again. You’ve inspired me to look it up. 👍
Gosh it’s hard to believe it’s 5 years ago now!!
I’ll second that! Where has the time gone?
I think one positive thing I got from the lockdown was better appreciation of the Plantations which are so close to home. Although I’ve been through them regularly over the years during the lockdown I strayed off the more well used paths and discovered new aspects which I continue to enjoy now its all over
I tramped my local paths into submission.
I can believe that 😅