OK, so when you go up there's a zip on the ground just pull the zip.
OK.
Look at this.
Is it bad that the first thing I think of is pole dancing when I see this?
Yeah, that is bad.
Welcome to this week's episode of a New Normal.
This week we're looking at travel and the environment.
Lockdown has brought about a lot of changes which has made us rethink
the way that we travel and the impact that it has on the environment.
I did a call out and I asked viewers what their hopes are looking forward
and we were overwhelmed with responses.
So many people have got in touch.
This is obviously something that people care loads about and I hope that in this video we'll be
able to look at the way attitudes are changing,
what people are adapting about their behaviors and
what it is that we can do to protect the environment moving forward.
Isn't the problem that you then have these rich people that just pay for the
right to go everywhere, they're paying to live a
much fuller bigger life and and if you don't have the money to
afford that, then you're stuck wherever you are.
If flying massively damages the earth, you shouldn't be
allowed to be like, well I'm rich so I get to do that more.
That doesn't make any sense travel.
Travel and going away makes people feel like they're more in control,
it gives them space to breathe, there's you know elements of it can help your
mental health but I guess the point is finding alternative ways and alternative things to do
that create that same feeling and allow
you to feel, you know, stimulated, excited that
you're in a different place whilst not having to get on an airplane.
I think that's the main thing and that requires a bit of imagination.
It didn't take a huge amount of imagination to jump in a car and
go to The Secret Campsite in Sussex.
This campsite in particular focuses on letting people have a lot of space and
giving them an opportunity to reconnect with nature.
Something I thought I would probably benefit from myself.
Would you like a cup of tea?
Yes, please, yes.
Obviously lots of people are doing staycations, right?
Have you noticed that this summer has been visibly a lot more busy
than other years?
As soon as we were told by the government that we could open on july the 4th,
we were just totally inundated.
We're not any busier because we're always full up but we've got busy spectacularly quickly.
It is beautiful here, like, there's so much space.
I've definitely been to campsites where there's not much going on,
it's like a big field.
Well, I think you're like most people.
Most people's experience of camping is a bit more like a housing estate in a field.
The grass is cut, cars, dogs, groups, music, everything piles into this field and the
farmer who owns the field tries to squeeze more and more people in
to make more and more money and we said stop thinking about the
money as the drive, think about the wildlife as the drive because that's
actually the passion.
Just down in this part here, we've got a board where we quite often get snakes.
There's loads of blackberries, goldfinches ...
They're all over those.
Loads of people don't see these trees ...
There's a dragonfly there ... Can you see this dragonfly coming towards us?
Right here.
Camera shy. They often are.
Do you want to try hazelnuts?
I like Nutella.
We've been two times already and we love it.
As soon as we get here, it's relaxing, isn't it?
We've thought over the years sort of built up all the like, the tent and, you know,
the sort of outdoor living type stuff as well ...
I have to say this whole setup is really, really nice.
You do look like you've done this before.
Yeah. — How much does is a tent like that?
About 400 quid?
Hi, how's it going?
Sorry to interrupt you look very chilled out with the strawberries and a book there.
The boys have gone on a walk.
How many have you got? Three?
Four. — There's four boys.
I had to cancel our holiday to South Africa which is currently in lockdown.
So, I said to them ... and I know this site and let's see if they're open.
Like, you've had to cancel the trip and you've kind of adapted everything but
how are you feeling at the moment generally?
I'll tell you what, it has really been nice here is just be able to get out of the house.
You know, I hate these campsites where you just sit on top of each other,
so it's really nice you've got these big meadow places.
Did you always plan to come on this trip or is it a trip planned post lockdown?
I was planning to come
with another dad and then, yeah, I persuaded Donna to come.
Were you not very keen on it before? Are you not much of a camper?
30 years I've not camped for, so ...
She's scared of frogs, so she doesn't like going out.
Oh, right, I hope you really enjoy it.
Have you got her a nice tent?
Yeah.
Apparently so, I've not seen it.
Are you by yourself?
Just by myself.
By yourself? Oh my gosh. What made you come ... ?
Just a bit of peace. I'm stuck in a flat with my sister and my mom and whatever ...
Just like, I don't really have so much space with myself so i was like ...
So what did you do last night?
I just made a fire and watched it for like three hours, I was so happy with myself.
A lot of my friends are getting more into like, just walking, like walking trips,
cycling trips, trying to get themselves more.
Do you reckon you would do this again?
Oh definitely.
I'm already like, yeah, this is my local now.
I'll be back.
So this is the last episode in this series of A New Normal that we've been working on.
I want to say thank you so much to people for watching and getting in touch,
it's been amazing having so much contact from our audience,
that has definitely helped me personally so much through lockdown.
I hope that this has served in some way
to offer some inspiration, like a bit of
possibility and positivity and yeah, just something a bit different
looking forward to the future.
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