What I’ve been reading this week, 4 April 2020

Space for skylarks, life but not as we know it, the dream of a tree, and writing during a crisis (or not).

Environment and nature

UK wildlife enjoys humans’ lockdown but concerns raised over conservation – I’ve noticed an explosion of birdlife in my local area, but as this piece points out, it isn’t all good news.

Anatomy of a heatwave: how Antarctica recorded a 20.75°C day last month – while your attention was elsewhere, this happened.

Space for skylarks – a short piece about the skylark.

Outdoors

Another memory from twenty years ago on the Arizona Trail – Chris Townsend has been reliving some memories from long-distance walks past.

It’s Life Mel But Not As We Know It. Coronavirus and the Mountains (hill climbed: Beinn a’Chearcaill) – Sara Jane Douglas made one final hillwalking trip before lockdown.

Reflecting on my first Ramblers group walk – and the strange months ahead – Lucy Wallace has made a start as the new president of Ramblers Scotland.

The climber who bagged all 282 Munros in one winter – amazing achievement by Kevin Woods.

Coronavirus

Threads – a fantastic piece by Kerri ní Dochartaigh. ‘What if none of this is real, and we are all just the dream of a tree?’

Infected – a call for love in the time of Corona – I keep coming back to this.

What ‘Walden’ Can Tell Us About Social Distancing and Life’s Essentials – ‘Today mandatory social distancing is wrecking the global economy … this wreckage may look like a long-overdue correction for an unsustainable system.’

The Gilded Cage – a tale of self-isolation from Anna Fleming.

Peak District bosses plead with residents not to block paths during Covid-19 crisis – ‘There have been no changes to rights of way legislation as a result of the Covid-19 measures.’

Books and reading

Lockdown Reading – a good list of outdoor reads from Ash Routen.

Writing during a crisis (or not) – good, simple advice from Rachel Rowlands.

Readers can now support my writing by making a one-off donation via my tip jar. Your spare change helps keep me going on the trail!