"15 minute walk to nature for all" aim

By Rhiannonw

Tue, 04 Apr 2023
  • 675 reads
8 comments
 

How far must you walk for a sight of greenery
to touch, roam, relief from just concrete scenery?
Such privilege for many with gardens, and town’s end
so near, but for many there’s little free land
clean from rubbish, pollution, for its earth
to be fit for play and soothing green growth.

Young families in the countryside instead
have problems of transport for doctors and bread,
clothing, and libraries, chapels and school,
and forgetting to appreciate their surroundings are real cool!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-64456455

[IP: fifteen minutes]

 

Certificate PG
Poem
Nature
Nature
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by marandina on

Nicely done, Rhiannon. Yes, green spaces are invaluable but you put forward some balance re drawbacks of living out in the countryside. As always, great rhythm and rhyming. Keep well. Paul 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Paul. I hadn't heard of this aim until I googled around about 15 mins. I remember some of the problems of young families in the country from when I helped with 'Home Start' support for families. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

The concrete jungle and the open green pastures; nice depictions of the issues in both dwellings as the city does need more green space and the countryside could use more amenities; although, “their surroundings are real cool" -   Enjoyed this poem very much Rhiannon.smiley

Penny4athought

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Penny. Yes, I think it is easy to not appreciate your surroundings when so accustomed to them. Maybe especially for youngsters who can think those in the towns have so much that they are lacking? Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

It's all about balance isn't it? I felt so sorry for young children during the pandemic (and their parents) in flats with no safe access to the outside

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Yes, it is good that they are trying to work on it. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I am sorry I didn't see this companion to your one about cities. We are not so rural as those you describe in the second part of this poem, but even so, there is a big problem with "nothing to do, nowhere to go" particularly when it is raining. But I kind of like that as it doesn't matter if you cannot or can afford to do stuff when there is no stuff to do. Everyone does nothing and grumbles :0) However computer games have become so important! Virtually running and jumping on a screen, while outside the land is free. And I cannot understand the horror of being outside without their own music, as if it was a safety rope and they would go adrift in bird song or sound of wind. My son says I am a boomer :0)
Anyway, this poem too raises important issues!

ps heard on the radio that imagination arises from being bored, and if children have no time to be bored they will not exercise their imaginations. I wonder if this is why so many great children's stories are set in the middle of nowhere?

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Yes, I've often felt children get organised too much and don't have time to think,and ponder about what they want to do (though I notice my young grandchildren can get ideas of what to do that need restraining and guiding!). And even get chauffered around to so many after-school things in case they may find one of the activities are something they are very good at, and in case they get bored or complaining friends do this and that. But then they haven't learnt to make good decisions about how to spend their time by the time they get older.

And yes, too much time 'on screen' and with headphones on is certainly detrimental. And it is good to encourage children to look at nature, listen to it,  and play in it. Rhiannon