HALLE, Belgium (AP) – There is no stopping flowers when they bloom, and blossoms when they burst. Unfortunately, people these days are prevented from enjoying themselves.
In pandemic times, when so much stretches against the grain, some of the natural beauties are no longer embraced, but are kept at stake.
From Japan’s cherry blossom trees, to the endless Keukenhof tulip fields in the Netherlands, to the riot of purple blueprints in the Hallerbos south of Brussels, everything looks this best this spring when conditions are at their worst.
“The flowers are there. Nature refuses to be stopped by anyone, “said Halle Mayor Marc Snoeck. For the second year in a row, he has to keep people away from the famous forests of the municipality instead of inviting them.
Authorities around the world want to ward off a new surge of COVID-19 infections to include a death toll of more than 3 million. Crowds are a bad health feeling. At the same time, the soothing glory of nature is said to be an ideal balm against the psychological burdens of loneliness, disorientation and fear that the pandemic is causing.
However, when these two concepts clash, caution beats joy these days.
“The weather is great and there is beauty to enjoy,” Snoeck said. “But on the other hand, we have to look at it. Security trumps everything. And while it’s good to enjoy this fun time and the beauty of the purple bluebells, we absolutely do not want anyone to get sick. ”
Normally, more than 100,000 visitors come to Halle’s press fields over three weekends. Last spring, when Europe was already grappling with the first surge of infections, Snoeck shut down the forest as much as possible.
Since it is an open forest, there is no question of a complete ban, which is why Snoeck canceled special bus connections and issued parking bans to discourage people from coming.
‘If they all showed up in these three weekends, there would really be too many people and safe distance could not be respected. Not everyone wears a mask like this at a moment’s notice, and of course it is necessary, ‘said Snoeck.
Keeping the masses away is a counter-intuitive response in many places. For Snoeck and the Hallerbos it is easy, although tourism revenue hurts badly. With the bluebells nature gives and little needs to be done about it.
However, for the Keukenhof tulip fields, 300 kilometers north of Halle, the tulip fields are a man-made creation with plantings starting in September. Two years ago, 1.5 million people visited his eight-week career, but now a special antivirus pilot scheme is needed to allow only a few thousand on the resettled opening day.
‘Every year we make the most beautiful Keukenhof. We do not think that visitors will not come. We always do it for visitors – if necessary. digital – but there is nothing better than visitors, ”said Stefan Slobbe, garden foreman of Keukenhof.
Like Belgium, the Netherlands is struggling to quell a third surge of COVID-19 and is still limiting public events, while ignoring the whole process of flourishing and wilting.
It was no different in Japan when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom last month. The blossoms, known as sakura, have influenced Japanese culture for centuries and are frequently used in poetry and literature, with their fragility seen as a symbol of life, death and rebirth.
This year, like last year, the pandemic also had an impact. “Please do not gather to enjoy the cherry blossoms,” said signs in Tokyo, placing a damper on the usually exuberant atmosphere.
Some, however, could not be restricted.
“Last year I could not come here because of the emergency. This year I wanted to come again, so here I am, ‘said 21-year-old university student Miyu Obata.
The lack of mass tourism flowing to the Hallerbos will also be beneficial. Any flower that is trampled will not be shot again next year, Snoeck said. Once the pandemic is contained, the blue block fields may look even better.
“Fewer visitors will make nature even more beautiful,” Snoeck said.
___
Mark Carlson and Virginia Mayo in Halle, and Mike Corder and Peter Dejong in Lisse, the Netherlands, contributed to this report.
___
Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at:
https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemie
https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus- vaccination
https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak