Many of us will have taken great pride in our communities over the last few weeks. Social distancing, designed to keep us apart, has in fact brought us together, and made us realise what we value in our community Streets have become cleaner and safer to walk along; people take their litter home.
Blossom on our tree lined roads appears more vibrant and distinctive, heralding the arrival of spring in a troublesome season of our lives.
Our local parks, some provided by philanthropic gestures and now maintained by councils and volunteers have become a very important part of our daily ritual. As many of us take our “ hourly “ stroll of exercise we have realised the beauty of the plants, flowers and grasses that have provided an oasis of calm and beauty in our fight against the coronavirus. Never before has our local environment been so important to us. We must harness and treasure those things around us and treat them with respect. They are essential to the wellbeing of us all.
Our parks, our roads, our houses and the local businesses which have become established in our communities, define who we are. Our local shops, hospitality and catering outlets along with local businesses will need our support more than ever. The re building, reforming and re energising of these important features of our community, will require us to play our part.
It is our small businesses that provide the unique character and charm to our local streets. Many use locally sourced products to sell to us, thus helping other aspects of our local economy and helping our environment. Many have helped us in our hour of need, offering home deliveries, emergency call outs or advice on the phone.
What they sell, what they offer, the hours they open have a great impact upon us and our lifestyle. They know us; they recognise how their decisions impact upon us. They build personal relationships with customers and contribute to the long term growth of our neighbourhoods. These are the people who decorate their windows with Christmas decorations, Easter displays and posters supporting charitable events and sponsorships. Their camaraderie between other businesses creates the “Buzz “, increasing footfall and participation of local residents. These are the people who are the entrepreneurs, who build our local economy by fostering creativity, innovation and hard work. It is now that they need us to cherish value and support them.
Local businesses have a passion for what they do. When they open for businesses again let them know you value their service. Shop and spend locally.
