WITH heavy snow falling across Basingstoke today, many people will be wondering if they are allowed to go out and enjoy it during lockdown.

Here, we look at what you can and can’t do in the snow.

The Department for Health was previously asked by ITV if people are allowed to have snowball fights or go sledging, and it responded to say: “It is against the law to meet socially with family or friends unless they are in your support bubble.

“You can only leave your home to exercise, and not for the purpose of recreation or leisure (eg a picnic or social meeting).

“This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.”

The government states that this is what counts as exercise:

You can exercise in a public outdoor place:

· by yourself

· with the people you live with

· with your support bubble (if you are legally permitted to form one)

· in a childcare bubble where providing childcare

· or, when on your own, with 1 person from another household

Public outdoor places include:

· parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, forests

· public gardens (whether or not you pay to enter them)

· the grounds of a heritage site

· playground

What about travelling to exercise?

The rules issued by the government state:

You should minimise time spent outside your home, but you can leave your home to exercise.

This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.

So, if you stick to the rules by staying within your household or support bubble, you are with a maximum of one person from another household (at a social distance), and you have only travelled to a local area – it would seem that enjoying the snow today is permitted.