I met two men who were in conversation, Dave (72), and Terry (79). The two men greeted me kindly, and after telling them about my project seemed extremely enthusiastic about granting me permission to photograph their individual plots. The two men showed me around their land and talked to me about the flowers, vegetables and fruits they were growing this year and sat down with me and made me a cup of tea. Right away I felt at ease and at home in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people. 

This feeling I felt is a huge factor in the reason I wanted to photograph a place like this. I did not want to document a place that holds no emotional connection to me as I feel I would do the location no justice, nor the people who inhabited it. 

After talking to them for a little while I started photographing with their permission. I asked if they would be ok with me taking photographs of them, however they both politely declined as they did not like their photograph being taken, however they were both happy with being in the background of my photographs. With the newfound knowledge I had, I allowed myself to photograph the location, sticking with the ideas I had in mind about being thorough with plant species and still life photography, with underlying narratives about pollution and plastic being used against themselves to create something purely natural using something unnatural, and educating people on the accessibility surrounding the growing of natural food for personal consumption. 

After an hour or two of being there I questioned Terry on the large blue tape holding his polly tunnel together. 

Terry is a retired RAF soldier from the north of England who spends his time looking after his family and friends, he is extremely compassionate and charitable, offering me a cup of tea, biscuits, offering Dave rhubarb and lettuce, giving me his knowledge on growing vegetables and giving plants to other beginner gardeners withing the plot. 

He said that the tape was there to hold together a slice that had been left by ignorant trespassers and burglars. They entered the polly tunnel one night, poured oil on the floor, chemical cleaning product in his wellies, stole is knives, cut and stabbed his tunnel, broke and stole chairs. When I asked why someone would do this he shrugged and looked helpless, he didn’t know either. 

He then talked about how one side of his greenhouse was made of plastic and not glass. It was to protect it from kids on the park side of the partitioning fence from throwing stones at the greenhouse trying to smash the windows, again I asked, he did not know why. 

He talked about his contact with the police and the YACIO, that offered no support or help in combatting this. The YACIO discouraged the idea that the allotment should have a gate, and cctv cameras, as it would cost too much to add a gate, and they could not have someone monitor the cctv, which is the stupidest response in the world, as the cctv would only be used as a measure of prevention, and then surveillance after something had happened to catch a criminal. 

The fact that people on this planet who are trying to live better lives, care for others in a sustainable and eco-friendly way are being tormented and harassed is unacceptable. And if any progress is to be made in society, there must be more education about mother nature and the importance of teaching your children about the virtues of life and the lesson of caring for others.