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On another walk to one of my favourite waterfall trails near my house I have been getting outside and reflecting. This walk took place after a good couple of rainy days that made the waterfalls gush at a rapid pace. This is one of the great things about winter in the south, the increased rainfall. With rainfall aplenty everything greens-up and becomes plump with a soft green. Even though many of the non-native plant species lose leaves and give off the appearance of winter being dead and grey, much of the Australian bush takes on a lush green. The view that winter is a time of stopping, hibernation and death isn’t really true in Australia. It is more a time to cool down and trap some water and growth to prepare for the harsh summers.

Along my walks I have noticed all the different greens of mosses and greens of the diverse flora around me. I can appreciate the vast water and life that is all around me. You get the beautiful mist from the gushing water and the refreshing clear air around it. Perhaps the only thing that troubles me is the fact that every time I venture out into a seemingly pristine natural setting, I encounter some rubbish. This time it came in the form of a couple of soft plastic wrappers along the trail. I seem to look at this in two ways. Firstly, as an opportunity to pick this waste up and feel fulfilled and help keep these environments beautiful. The second way is in frustration. It perplexes me why anyone would bother to come all the way out to these natural parks and sites if they don’t already have an appreciation of nature. If they have this appreciation why do they demonstrate such carelessness? Does it not occur to people that these places are more sustainable, beautiful and preserved without your kit-kat wrappers all over the forest floor? Regardless of all the plastic I always find, I think it wouldn’t be correct to assume that things aren’t getting better.

I think overall people are more conscious about their plastic and littering, especially in important environments such as where I walked. I was surprised just the other day to witness biodegradable doggy doo doo bags. So, there is even thought going into where our dog’s crap goes which is great to see. Plastic, the Australian bush and responsibility aside, winter brings with it green and gushing waterfalls. Happy trails everyone!