How does the public go about getting interested, being heard and having an effect on what is happening? Part of the answer is being connected and this doesn’t mean staring at a computer, reading books or watching the idiot box. In order to form an opinion on these matters one must observe access and examine the facts and most importantly, interact with other people.

Tree Lovers

Most people who visit, say, the city centre, do so in order to purchase goods. Some love it, some loathe it. Most never raise their eyes above shop level. It is like going for a walk in the countryside purely for exercise. But if you happen to be in the company of a bird watcher or tree-lover your walk also becomes educational. You will be encouraged to look where you never looked before; you will begin to understand nesting habits, birdcalls, tree shapes, and recognizable features of different animal and bird habitats, etc. I know. I’ve experienced it.

Ignore the Gap

It’s exactly the same as the city. You can shop and look at the shop fronts or you can raise your head a few degrees and study the architectural detail or where the buildings meet the sky. The study and understanding of places and their use increases attachment, concern and activism towards improvement of both the self and the environment. What do you see when you lift up your eyes and study the buildings?