THE swifts have gone from the skies above my garden. These wee birds fly all the way from central Africa in the spring to breed here and hatch their young.

In May, as I was sitting in my garden early one beautiful morning, I actually heard a flock of swifts above me. It was the sound of their wings that caught my attention before I saw them. It was a lockdown morning, no traffic, no background sound, and they were flying low.

I never have been much of a bird watcher; well, what I mean is I have always loved sightings of wildlife, including birds, but don’t sit for hours to spot different types. I know the names of some birds but many I can’t identify with certainty. My friend Jim is my human encyclopaedia for such things.

Of course, we can still appreciate nature and wildlife without being able to identify their exact names. A beautiful tree is still worthy of admiration, even if you don’t know if it’s an oak or a sycamore. You can enjoy the antics of a flock of birds, even if you’re not sure if they are martins or swifts.

And there are some wild creatures we all know and can identify: a fox, a robin, a hedgehog, a squirrel, a rabbit, a mole, a deer, a dandelion, a daisy, a heron, a swan, a duck and a hare would be on this list, but it’s not as extensive as it used to be. As nature has receded from our lived experiences, so has the ability to identify and name much of the wildlife and plants that survive around us.

The beautifully illustrated book The Lost Words by Jackie Morris and Robert MacFarlane was a response to this loss of nature vocabulary. With beautiful pictures and poems, it brings back to life some of the animals and flora of our land. And resources like the ranger service do a fantastic job in our county, providing walks, giving fascinating information and talking to a variety of groups.

But it’s the lived experience of nature that is the vital link between having knowledge and developing an understanding that will nurture a love of our natural environment. We cannot really love that which we do not experience and value personally. It’s when we physically encounter a plant or animal that we develop a desire to know its name and understand its significance.

This seems a perfect time to find ways to enhance that lived experience of nature. In schools, because of the presence of Covid, learning outdoors as much as possible is being promoted. Some schools will have access to woodland or natural areas more than others. Some schools in built-up areas will be more restricted. But even in urban areas, there may be a grassy area with a tree or two, or perhaps a nature corner can be created.

Teachers do a great job, and they are doing so in very challenging circumstances just now; they know their business. But as a storyteller who until the lockdown was in schools every week telling stories, I am unable to do so in these new circumstances. I fully understand why, of course.

But as things develop, it may be possible for storytelling to take place outdoors, we’ll see. For me this is not so much a restriction but a new opportunity to make nature the stage, with listeners immersed in the natural surroundings in which so many stories are set. Even if only concrete playground is currently available, there is potential to make more of the outdoor space now that it will be used in a different way.

As I say, time will tell what will be possible. My interest is not just as a storyteller but also as a parent. It’s a time to be cautious and safe, yes, but let us not forget the vital importance of the creative arts in all this. Many children have missed out on so much already, and music, song, storytelling and drama are such a vital part of children’s development and soul; indeed for us all. Perhaps we all need to relearn the campfire spirit, around which so much human culture and understanding developed.

And so my thoughts return to the swifts which flew over my garden. They will now be flying over Africa, following the rains and chasing the insects there. Their story is utterly fascinating; a lesson in natural and human history, as well as geography, biology and ecology.

Soon the pink-footed geese from Iceland will arrive in their honking formations, to spend their winter here. I’ve noticed some trees are showing they already feel the nip of autumn. The cycle of nature’s stories are all around us, if we have an ear to listen and eye to notice.

More learning outdoors is a gift. Let’s make the most of it.