Brrrrrr… its cold, January can certainly feel this way. Though each day we receive approximately 2 minutes and 7 seconds more precious daylight as we tip toe away from the winter solstice towards spring. Many of us are still in semi hibernation perhaps, though lets be mindful of these small changes, they can bring you solace as you move through the cold snap, which can feel ever present this month.
A small success within my photography practice, and flocking to join a gathering of peaceful souls on the Dartmoor hills has brought a little warmth to my month.
Polytunnel Flowers.
Polytunnel Flowers. From the story “The Song of the Owl”
Thrilled to have the artwork “Polytunnel Flowers” printed, framed, and hung at the Royal West of England - Art Gallery, Bristol. As part of their first Photography Open - An exhibition celebrating contemporary photography from UK and international artists. The exhibition runs from the 28th January through till the 1st of May 2023. The works on display will form an unique curation of fine art contemporary photography. Artworks on display and their subsequent editions will be available to purchase. Try to make it to the venue if you find yourself in the area, there’s sure to be some memorable work on show.
Ceremony on Dartmoor.
On the 21st of January this month over 3000 peaceful souls gathered, to protest, and evoke an age old ceremony. To summon the spirit of Old Crockern - Dartmoor's ancient defender against greed! It was the most significant land protest since the Kinder Scout Mass Trespass around a century ago.
Old Crockern - Illustration By Nick Hayes.
One such greedy individual, a wealthy land owner by the name of Alexander Darwall had recently won a court case to extinguish our long-exercised right to wild camp responsibly on Dartmoor—the only place where it’s been legal in England. Thus continued the lengthy history we have in this country of a small percentage of powerful and wealthy individuals who continue to grab all the land rights whilst excluding the rest of us. In a country that legally only allows the right to adventure through just 8% of England, the remote areas of open access that fall under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act of 2000. On top of this we are legally allowed to explore a mere 3% of our rivers. Therefore this significant moment felt like another kick in the teeth, as we hope for increased access to nature, as opposed to the opposite. How are people supposed to care for the land, to learn more of the natural world, the interconnectedness that exists in these spaces, if we are not permitted to feel apart of it, to strengthen our ties with the landscape, to witness or perhaps sleep out under the stars at night if we choose, within these small fragmented islands of wild that still remain dotted infrequently across our countryside. We only need look just north of our border to Scotland or alternatively to parts of Scandinavia to see what may be possible.
Ceremony and moments such as this significant coming together, to protest, and to voice our concerns, forges momentum that will bring about change, and strengthen the narrative around people accessing the land, communities on the land, and people caring for the land.
The principle of direct action is the defiant insistence on acting as if one is already free. - David Graeber.
I was fortunate to be at this beautiful, and significant gathering with my partner and two young boys, who both proudly carried their protest signs - which they had crafted that morning, both bewildered by the fact that one man could look to potentially instil such restrictions against the people.
We walked slowly amongst like minded folk to the Dartmoor hills, as the sun cascaded through the trees and sparkled off nearby streams, to gather and summon the spirit of Old Crockern. A ceremony of hope, magic, and myth that crackled and fizzled in the air as the afternoon setting sun slowly dipped towards the western horizon, thousands of us together, hopeful and determined for change.
Recommended links for further reading include the Right to Roam, The Stars are for Everyone, The Book of Trespass, and the Trespassers Companion.
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Speak soon Joel.
Flowers and the Land.
Hope the exhibition goes well, they’re lovely photos and deserve to be there. It’s staggering isn’t it, how we’re increasingly pushed away from what we should be enjoying more of and helping protect. The elite are getting their ways little too much at the moment and we’re right to fight that.
Tina and I have recently started canoeing/kayaking, became members of British canoeing and we’re allowed to explore something like 3000 miles of waterways which sounds like a lot but when you consider that’s only a fraction of the overall 10000 miles or whatever it is, my figures are off the top of my head here; we’re being denied a lot of what we should be enjoying and looking after as a nation.