After what feels like months of relentless gloom – both in the skies and in the news – the sun has finally remembered what it's there for. This week, we’ve been blessed with longer daylight, actual blue sky, and the cheery return of snowdrops, crocuses, and those plucky daffodils that refuse to be cowed by sub-zero temperatures.
And isn’t that a comforting thought? No matter how much the world appears to be on fire (sometimes literally), the seasons still turn, the trees still bud, and nobody – not the billionaires, autocrats, or algorithm overlords – can take away our right to ramble. They may hoard wealth, power, and probably a secret bunker in New Zealand, but they cannot privatise the feeling of fresh air filling your lungs or the simple joy of mud squelching under your boots.
So, in the spirit of finding small joys amidst the chaos, here are a few reasons to be cheerful on your walks this month:
Spring is creeping in – The hedgerows are stirring, the birds are getting a bit too enthusiastic at dawn (and dawn is no longer hitting after the alarm!), and soon, we’ll be spotting the first lambs in the fields. Nature carries on, blissfully unaware of our human nonsense.
Walking remains gloriously free – No subscriptions, no surge pricing, no billionaire middleman taking a cut. Just lace up your boots (admittedly pricey) and step outside.
Ducklings incoming – It won’t be long now before ponds and rivers are full of tiny, fluffy, slightly chaotic ducklings. (It is physically impossible to watch them without smiling. Science says so.)
Post-walk cake season is approaching – Okay, every season is post-walk cake season. But there’s something particularly satisfying about earning your cuppa and a slice of something delicious after a brisk springtime stroll.
So, lovely walkers, take heart. The world may be ridiculous, but the hills are still rolling, the paths are still open, and the company – whether human, canine, or avian – is excellent. Get out there, soak up the fresh air, and remind yourself that, for all its flaws, this planet is still a beautiful place.
Happy walking!
