900 Yards

900 Yards explores the diversity of people I encounter in my nearest green space and our shared, innate need to be close to nature. Through these everyday encounters, the series reflects how access to nature shapes community and a sense of belonging.

A collage of black-and-white photographs featuring diverse groups of people outdoors, including children, adults, and seniors engaged in activities such as sitting, standing, and relaxing in nature.

Black and white photo of a grassy field with tall grasses and flowers, with a blurred background of a distant building or structure and cloudy sky.

An elderly man with long white hair and a beard, wearing a plaid jacket, stands outdoors with a large tree in the background, holding a walking stick.

A black and white photo of a young couple outdoors. The woman has light skin, long hair, hoop earrings, and a tattoo on her shoulder. The man has dark skin, short hair, sunglasses on his head, and is wearing a The North Face T-shirt. They are hugging

A man with a beard wearing a dark T-shirt and a puffy jacket stands outdoors in a grassy field, holding a leash, with a beagle dog sitting on the ground beside him. The man is casually dressed and looking at the camera.

Four people sitting on a park bench in front of leafy bushes, two adult men, a woman, and a young boy. The woman is wrapped in a shawl, and the man in the center is wearing a hat. The man on the right has white hair, glasses, and a cane.

Black and white photograph of a cow in a grassy field, viewed through a woven wire fence with blurred plants in the foreground and trees in the background.

A garden pathway with lush plants and flowers, featuring a swing hanging from a vine-covered tree branch.

Three men wearing traditional turbans, sitting and standing outdoors on a bench in a field.

Black and white photo of a young man with dark hair, wearing a black t-shirt, leaning on a sleeping woman with outstretched arm, under a curved structure, outdoors with blurred trees in the background.

Two men sitting on a wooden bench outdoors, with trees and residential buildings in the background. One man is wearing a cap and dark clothing, the other wearing sunglasses, a bucket hat, and a white t-shirt. They both have athletic shoes and socks,

A man in sunglasses wearing a checkered jacket kneels on the ground with one hand on the ground and the other on his knee outdoors in a field.

A young person with curly hair sitting on grass outdoors, with a bicycle nearby, in a black-and-white photo.

A black-and-white photo of a man with long hair, a beard, and glasses, wearing a leather biker jacket, a plaid shirt, a bandana around his neck, and a cap with the inscription 'British Railways.' He is outdoors with blurred trees in the background.

Two young girls outdoors, one sitting on a bicycle and the other standing beside it, both smiling and dressed warmly in jackets, in a rural setting with a grassy field and trees in the background.

Black and white photo of a man with dark hair and beard sitting in the driver's seat of a pickup truck, looking out the window. The truck is parked on grass near a vast open landscape with fields, distant trees, and a cloudy sky.

A young man with curly hair and a beard, wearing a beanie and a jacket, standing outdoors with trees in the background. He is holding a cigarette in his mouth.

Two young girls standing in a grassy area outdoors, smiling at the camera, with trees and cloudy sky in the background.

A woman sitting on a stone ledge outdoors, wearing a baseball cap, denim jacket, striped shirt, shorts, and sneakers, holding a smartphone with a scenic background.

A man walks a dog with a walking stick along a leaf-covered trail in a wooded area, captured in black and white.

A woman sitting cross-legged outdoors on a yoga mat, with water bottles nearby, and trees in the background, in black and white.

Four people outdoors in front of ancient stone ruins. Two women and two men, one man sitting in a wheelchair, the others standing close together, smiling, with trees in the background.

A woman sitting cross-legged in a small boat under trees, with various items on board, including a small toy astronaut and some bottles, in a black and white photo.

A woman in a puffy jacket, boots, and a wide-brim hat standing outdoors on a leaf-covered path surrounded by trees.

A woman with long dark hair smiling and pointing at a collage of black-and-white photographs on a wall.

A black-and-white photo of a man with long dreadlocks wearing a head wrap and a puffer vest, standing outdoors near the trees. A girl with glasses and curly hair, wearing a striped jacket, is in front of him, holding his hand.

Open book showing two pages: the left page has a black-and-white photo of a young woman sitting outside near water; the right page displays a color photo of a group of women dressed in white, with some wearing animal masks and headdresses, at an outd

Open photo book with two photographs. The left page shows a black-and-white photo of a man with a dog in a field, titled "Rodney and Peter". The right page shows a color photo of a young girl with a towel wrapped around her head, titled "Ada by the L

A black and white photograph of a young person with curly hair sitting outdoors in a natural setting, with a bicycle partially visible on the left side. The person is looking at the camera with a neutral expression, wearing a sweatshirt, and has a ba

Two middle-aged men walking outdoors on a trail in a wooded area, with one wearing glasses, a beanie hat with a mounted camera, and a jacket, and the other wearing a hooded jacket with the hood up. They are holding a leash, and their expressions seem

During the Covid-19 restrictions in 2020, when the UK government imposed a 5km travel limit for exercise, I began taking daily walks to Stanton Low Park, just ten minutes from my front door. These walks gradually evolved into 900 Yards, a series documenting the people I encounter in this green space. The project highlights how proximity to nature can bring people from different backgrounds together, creating opportunities for encounter and connection.

In many ways, 900 Yards is also a portrait of Milton Keynes—a city often reduced to clichés. Planned on a grid as a city within a forest, more than a fifth of Milton Keynes is open space, with over 200 parks, 15 lakes, and 11 miles of canals The city was designed so that no resident would be more than approximately 900 yards, or around a ten minute walk, from green space. Its founders saw open space as a shared resource, integral to the city’s sense of community, a vision protected today by The Parks Trust, an independent charity. The title 900 Yards reflects not just proximity to nature, but the importance of access to green space in shaping a city, nurturing community, and fostering a shared sense of belonging.