麻豆社

There鈥檚 been much lamentable news this year, but one image I鈥檝e found hard to clear from my mind is of all the litter that鈥檚 been left at beauty spots. And with the bank holiday weekend upon us, it鈥檚 likely a few more lovely places will be trashed by close of play on Monday.

We heard warnings on this programme yesterday about 鈥榝ly camping鈥� in the Lake District, where so-called 鈥榙isposable tents鈥� now get left along with the disposable barbeques - for someone else to clear up. And I know down here, the south coast is braced for tonnes of rubbish on beaches, almost as though it should be expected.

I鈥檝e been impressed by the forbearance of those who look after some of the affected areas, especially the nature reserves - such as England鈥檚 largest at Holkham in Norfolk. Jack Fiennes, its director, said recently of the thousands of newcomers, some of whom were tossing resting seals into the sea for fun, that 鈥減ositively we have a chance to engage with a whole different section of society.鈥�

Nikki Williams of the Wildlife Trusts calls helpfully for a more joined-up way for us all to see the natural world. 鈥淵ou go to a place labelled 鈥榗ountryside鈥欌�� she says 鈥淸and] it鈥檚 a visitor experience - whereas it should be integrated into our lives.鈥�

I鈥檓 sure 鈥榝estival culture鈥� doesn鈥檛 help - where you rock up to a picturesque field for a night, listen to bands, and leave your tents and trash behind when it鈥檚 done. But this sense of the countryside being a consumer experience affects us all, I think, whether we鈥檙e litter-bugs or not. It dis-locates us subtly, spiritually, from nature and the outdoors.

We may think we love the lakes or the sea or the mountains but often it鈥檚 more like our love for chocolate, say, than it is for a close and dear friend.

On the walking retreats I run, I ask participants to pause, to look with love at the countryside around them 鈥� and then to see themselves lovingly as part of the beauty of the scene, as well. For me, as a Christian, it鈥檚 relational - it鈥檚 about being part of God鈥檚 Creation, which in the beginning God called 鈥済ood鈥�.

So often, we tend to see ourselves as rubbish, and that mindset overflows like a bin. Even many of the lovely people who come walking with me are reluctant to see that they鈥檙e as beautiful as a kingfisher in flight, or as a sunset over a glimmering sea.

But if we could act as if we are - if we could take that home from nature, for a start - I鈥檓 sure we鈥檇 take our litter with us, too.

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