Banbury Extinction Rebellion launches survey on life in lockdown and beyond

They have had 150 responses so far, with many involving comments on people’s biggest worries, on how they have been spending their time, and on the pleasures of walking and cycling.

Jane Rogers, with Banbury XR, said: "The aim really is to give a snapshot of life in Banbury now, and to consider how far people want to go back to ‘normal’, and which elements of our new lives (eg. less traffic, less pollution, discovering the beauty of local countryside) they would like to build into a new normal."

The survey is still open and Banbury XR members encourage people to take part. Anyone interested in taking the survey can use the follow web link: https://bit.ly/BanburyLockdownSurveyThe Banbury XR group submitted the following to the Banbury Guardian about the survey.

"The pandemic and lockdown have made us re-think our daily lives. Many local people have been directly affected by being ill, concerned for relatives, or working under difficult and risky conditions, while others have faced isolation and loneliness in their homes. All of us have made changes, some of them drastic.

"Only 13 per cent of the 150 who completed the questionnaire have been furloughed, while 24 per cent are key workers. Almost half are able to work from home some or all of the time; 15 per cent are home-schooling children and / or caring for others, and 16 per cent are volunteering. Twelve per cent of respondents have spent lockdown alone.

"Unsurprisingly, walking is the main leisure activity, with many taking pleasure in the natural world, exploring and rediscovering footpaths, parks and canalside routes. Many of those with increased leisure time have been gardening, cooking and reading, or taking the chance to learn a new skill.

"The question 'Who or what has helped you most during the crisis?' produced many comments about community spirit.

"One respondent said: 'Having volunteering roles made me feel valued and of help to those suffering.

"Another said: 'I run a local business and have been supporting our community through these times so that has kept us going.

"Religious faith and prayer were frequently mentioned, as were yoga, meditation and art. Social media has been enormously beneficial, enabling us to stay in touch with friends and family and to take part in pub quizzes.

"Asked about transport, almost half plan to walk more and a third to do more cycling, while half intend to fly less than they did before. Understandably, a question about public transport produced a mixed response, about a quarter intending to use it less than before.

"The second part of the survey involved how people feel about their lives in lockdown and about the future.

"It has been undeniably tough for some, particularly those living alone, and those home-schooling children. These have often felt anxious, lonely, and bored. But an amazing 75 per cent or our respondents report that their most frequent feeling is of gratitude.

"One respondent said she is feeling more relaxed and grateful for good health and many simple pleasures. A majority report more positive emotions (being happy, purposeful, relaxed) than negative ones.

"The single hardest thing, for most of us, has been isolation from friends. In contrast, the least difficult have been the restrictions on travel and shopping for non-essentials.

"To summarise, in the words of one of the respondents whose opinion is echoed by many others, We have learned that people can change their behaviour quite drastically in the face of an emergency. We must try to bring about adaptations to the climate crisis which is likely to be far more drastic than the pandemic, affecting not only humans but habitats, farming and ecosystems.

"It seems the majority of us are moving forward into a more sustainable way of living, as individuals, and that we want to see leadership in system change from our government."