Opinion: Our gardens are vanishing

FOR those of us fortunate enough to have a garden in a built-up area, it really is a blessing.

When viewed from the air, it is very disconcerting to see the houses crowded so close to each other, that hardly a back yard or even a patch of grass is visible anywhere.

So many children today are growing up not knowing the pleasure of just being able to sit for hours under a tree reading a favourite book, and even day-dreaming without a care in the world.

My most memorable hours growing up were spent with a friend or my sibling lying on our backs outside in the late evenings and looking up at the myriad of stars in the sky and even trying to count them.

We looked up at the full moon and wondered if it were indeed made of cheese.

Looking for the Milky Way was an infinite source of joy and we took turns trying to find the Northern Star and other shapes in the skies which reminded us of some fascinating animal and the like.

It was all very inspiring and certainly freed our imagination to soar beyond the confines of our surroundings.

The feeling of the soft and dewy grass under our heads and outstretched arms, was infinitely relaxing.

And knowing, too, that we were not being pressurised into unwanted activities by our parents was even more fantastic.

I don’t think many young people today, with their noses constantly glued to one or other tablet, will ever have the privilege of knowing what such an experience can be like.

Mostly closed up in the confines of their rooms, the best way to interact with the world is through their phones.

In my humble opinion, it is a sad phenomenon of our modern world.

For those who would love to know what the future job market is likely to be, I would suggest a study in eye, neck and back problems and in the field of psychiatry dealing with the consequences of anti-social behaviour, isolation and loneliness.

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