The Path
Six hours around Redhill.
Recently, I found myself in Redhill, Surrey for 6 hours while my car was being serviced, with “only” an iPhone 12 mini and time.
I wandered and made the most of my idle time, and on returning home saw that
has released an excellent video called “The Path” - I recommend it if you ever find yourself thematically struggling to make work (be it photography or any other). So I decided I’d share my few “random” phone images from my 5 mile loop of Redhill.(Also - if
can write about poppy seed bagels, then I can write a little about landfill. Can’t I? )Within minutes of setting off for my walk I found four (perhaps) abandoned Italian cars, outside an empty industrial unit. Each interesting in their own way, they set the scene in my mind for the day. “How has this happened?”
After a coffee, and realising I was here for the day, I set off on a walk, through the local “country park” to a pub where I could sit, read and while away the time.
Heading east out of Redhill, the area is bounded on two sides by the M23 and M25 motorways, the third was the main Brighton to London railway line from which I’ve gazed on this area too many times.
The fourth “side” is a “country park’ which I later found was formed from disused quarries (sand and Fuller’s Earth, since you asked)., bordered by Patteson Court Landfill.
Walking on my own, I saw one other person, the bounds of Redhill on a cloudy midweek day not enticing the hordes.
The paths were often waterlogged, and definitely deserved the “marsh” designation of Nutfield Marshes.
After reaching Mercer Lake I popped out by a residential development I have seen HUNDREDS of times on an old commute, including a lovely network of sandy paths (ruined by the “No Cycling” signs), and (for the moment*) the looming brow of Patteson Court Landfill on the opposite side of Holmethorpe Lagoon.
*After 2030 the plan is for “landfill restoration” to occur to beautify the site.
Loop done and my time almost up, I headed back into the town to retrieve the car.
Nice. I've been working on a story about the garbage business, so I am into all sorts of landfills and everything associated with trash.