Becoming aware of what is going on in the world

And, oh yes, it’s the first day of spring!

More importantly, at least to me, it is only a couple of days to the start of the trout fishing season and of my fishing season - oh joy of joys.

I know many of you will think this a sign of shear madness, but then you clearly are not trout fishermen.

Trout are cold blooded, so are lethargic, lying in the bottom of the deepest pools, lacking even the inclination to eat.

This is how they survive the cold winter months, in a state of almost suspended animation, awaiting not the arrival of the first day of spring, but the warming up of the water.

Many years ago when, as a bit of a geek, I used to take the temperature of the water at the start of my fishing day, I discovered that trout will feed in the body of the water, below the surface, so it was possible to catch one if fishing a sunken fly or lure.

But it was not until the water temperature increased to precisely 44 degrees that trout would rise to take a floating, or dry fly, from the surface.

This has since proved to be consistently true.

"So what?", you may well ask.

The reason I mention this is as an example of what you can discover in and around rivers and the countryside in general, just by being there and taking an interest.

The sheep in the fields at this time of year often sport spray “painted” numbers on their backs, as do the new-born lambs.

The numbers on the sheep are applied to the lambs to which the sheep is mother, so the farmer knows which lamb belongs to which mother.

Simple, but very effective, as are many of the good farmer’s techniques, such as another example I witnessed.

With a field full of sheep, the need to count them was satisfied by the farmer pouring the sheep’s food along the length of a wall.

The sheep ran to feed forming a neat line, making the counting easy.

I mention these little anecdotes to emphasise the benefit of actually participating in outdoor activities and, by so doing, becoming - at least for a time - part of the countryside.

The surreal and perhaps hypnotic pleasure to be gained from playing on games consoles or your phone to me are not only, for the most part, mindless distractions, but arguably dangerous.

They assist in distracting those that participate from taking an interest in or becoming aware of what is going on in the world, particularly our environment.

Bees are dying off, flies are seldom seen and insects generally are in steep decline. “Great, and a good job too” many will shout, but such creatures are at the bottom of the food chain.

No bees means no pollination.

And no pollination means no apples, or similar fruit.

The list goes on.

During the coming months, local angling clubs - mine included - will be offering free fishing days, with all tackle and baits provided totally free and with a hidden agenda save than to introduce young and old alike to the pleasures of fishing.

With it, the opportunity to sojourn, at least for a while, with nature and all the pleasures she has to offer.