CHRONICLE Nature Watch correspondent Mike Axford gives his thoughts about the lockdown.

The government’s Covid-19 advice states:

Stay at home: Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you can’t work from home)

If you go out, stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people at all times

Wash your hands as soon as you get home

Do not meet others, even friends or family. You can spread the virus even if you don’t have symptoms

This looks clear enough, but it’s not – the varying circumstances make it nigh on impossible for popular agreement on how it should be interpreted. Even Government Ministers have been caught ignoring their own advice.

Health reasons include exercise, but adequate exercise for an 18 year old would be dangerous for an 80 year old, just as a brisk walk up a quiet country lane is natural if you live in the country, but requires a trip out in the car if you live in a conurbation. City parks are full of people, and social distancing there requires everyone to play to the same rules, which they won’t. What else can you do?

While we are weaving about on our country lane, avoiding the dog walkers (inevitable), cyclists (suddenly everywhere) and tractors (are there more of them, too?), I wonder whether we are breathing in the aerosols of our fellow travellers when we cross their paths. Marching up a steep hill is hard enough, without gasping behind a sweaty mask.

Going outside for food does not include barbecues, and nor does it include fishing or hunting, although allotments now offer significant social opportunities. Kind friends went shopping for some of us Vulnerable People last week. Other shoppers were rude to our friends because they had stocked up with very reasonable shopping lists, multiplied by four. Please think twice before you shout at the ‘hoarders’ – they may not be hoarding!

Government Advice on not taking trips into the country leads to the conclusion that Wales, and other places that are nice enough to attract tourists and second home owners, should repel boarders. It makes me sad because every spring and summer we have welcomed people who appreciate us and our environment, and now we have to reject them, by force if necessary. But we still want and need to see (almost) everyone back next year. Will they come?

Meanwhile, those of us not working are catching up on jobs left undone for decades, learning new IT skills and reading that book which our family recommended many moons ago. Enjoy the difference, because it won’t last forever.