Local photographer, Keith Mason, will be hosting a photographic exhibition in the Church Hall, St Neots Parish Church this coming July. It will present images from his project, The Last Harvest, about Brook Farm which is subject of Bloor Homes’ outline planning application for 600 houses. Keith has worked extensively with Glynn Osborne whose family have worked the land at Brook Farm since 1947. In advance of the exhibition, you can get a taster of the work at his website www.keithmasonphotography.com.

Keith is currently finishing an MA Photography at Falmouth University. During the course he has undertaken photographic projects on Paxton Pits, and the River Great Ouse, as well as his contemplations of hiking the Cornish Coast. The Last Harvest represents the final major piece of work for his degree.

“The Last Harvest documents the final growing season of a small arable farm in Cambridgeshire. As tenant farmers, the family had no control when the farm was sold by the landowner to a house building firm that has plans to build 2,500 medium density homes on the land, extending the town and reducing potential farming output.”

“The land has been worked by three generations of the same family since 1947. The project explores the family’s connection to the land and the societal changes caused by urbanisation. The small orchard will produce one more crop of apples, last year’s seed is used to plant this year’s wheat harvest. Evidence of lifetimes of toil, hard work, and love can be seen in the barns, sheds and stores. The farmer’s father’s toolbox remains where it was, when he was alive, his ashes scattered in a small copse on top of the hill.”

“The project explores the impact of urbanisation on rural land use, the conflict between housing and food production, and the emotional impact of the family’s displacement and lost memories. The project aims to serve as a future record of farming life in the early 21st century.”