Word art illustrates Abbots Langley residents thought about lockdown

Residents in Abbots Langley have shared their lockdown experiences and what they hope they new normal will look like.

The Abbots Langley Town Association (ALLTA) have released its results from an online survey where it asked people in the village about their experiences in lockdown.

The answer to each of the questions have been summarised in pieces of word art to illustrate the difficulties and benefits that the 'new normal' brought to the community.

The need for connection with others and appreciation of the peaceful skies were commented on by many respondents as they thought about their recent experiences and hopes for the future.

When asked what they missed the most during lockdown, people commented on the lack of human contact from family, friends, and people centred activities such as singing in choirs, going to the theatre or to the pub.

The responses to this question are shown as a word cloud in the shape of a tear-drop and the word ‘hugs’ stands out.

When asked what people have appreciated during lockdown there is an emphasis in the responses on the change to living a slower pace of life, and to the quieter environment, with peace, bird song and lack of pollution all getting repeat mentions.

The opportunity to communicate through the means of Zoom was also appreciated.

The responses to this question are illustrated in the shape of a heart.

ALTTA was interested to know what people would want to hold onto from their lockdown experience, and these responses are shown as the green shoots of a young plant, where the sustainable ideas of eating food that is in season, enjoying the local area, and appreciating the gift of time and space all feature.

Finally, there is a picture of ‘blue sky thinking’, to answer the question ‘what would you like the new normal to look like?'

There are responses that show determination to engage locally with the environment and groups, cycling and walking, singing in choirs, socialising and enjoying life at a calmer pace than before lockdown.

Mary Chabrel, chair of ALTTA, said: “I think it is amazing that these answers show a deep sense of sustainability on so many levels, socially, environmentally and economically.

"A greater commitment to staying local means that people shop locally, travel less and communicate with their neighbours more.

"Society responded to the threat of the coronavirus very swiftly; we know that we need to respond to the global threat of climate change too, and that will require individual and community action over longer timescales.”

The four pieces of word art, created by ALTTA member, Rachel Johnson, are being submitted as part of the Covid-19 Lockdown diaries local history project.