A monsoon-like rainstorm hammers down on the canopy of trees while I sit, under the protection of a tarpaulin, transfixed by the dancing flames gently licking the kettle preparing my morning coffee. It’s 7am and before I set foot on my next ramble along the Chiltern Way, I am the guest of Bushcraft expert David Willis in woodland near Chorleywood, Hertfordshire.

David is a fascinating character who has led a life of adventure and career – from blowing up bridges in Belize for the Royal Engineers, to buying and selling cameras on Oxford Street, London and, finally, as a data analysis consultant – but his passion is the outdoors.

“I’ve always loved being in the outdoors. It was great way to get away from the IT side of things. About twelve years ago I saw an opportunity to do a year-long bushcraft leadership course, learning and teaching skills, which provided a solid base to transition from my old world.”

David now runs Bushcraft workshops, catering for one-to-ones to small groups and families, and covering topics ranging from ‘The Art of Fire’ to ‘Wood Whittling’ and ‘Fireside Bread Making’.

“I think there is a recognition by some people that they are missing something in their lives. In life you get stressed out and your worry-stack gets big! Being in the outdoors forces one to focus on the moment and reawakens some primal skills. We light a fire, we bake bread, make dens, build a shelter and make a brew. Then you just look around and listen to the birds singing, watch the trees swaying in the breeze, enjoy the beautiful light and stare at the flames, and it provides that grounding, that connection and simplicity, and I love to share it.”

David’s enthusiasm for the outdoors is infectious – not that I needed a lot of persuasion to agree to return for an adventure with my wife and boys. As I walked past the ancient Philipshill Wood and skirted the boundary of Chiltern Open Air Museum, I thought on David’s words and it reaffirmed my strong belief that, as humans, it’s important to have time to relax and just be, in order to balance our ever-quickening lives.

Between 1999 and 2003 I lived and worked overseas. I returned to a post-9/11, devolved UK, with England having to redefine its character from being more commonly associated with being British. I experienced a type of reverse culture shock which, although a little unsettling as a person, was beneficial as a photographer as it gave me the opportunity to look at my homeland objectively. The last few decades have seen a huge shift away from traditional churchgoing; the average weekly attendance for the established Church of England is less than 2% of a population of 56 million, begging the question: ‘if people aren’t going to church on a Sunday, what are they doing, and how does that reflect society in 21^st century England?’

With this in mind I documented what people living in England did on Sunday and in 2017 published my first photobook Sunday: A Portrait of 21^st Century England. I found Sunday was becoming more like a Saturday, using it as a day to experience consumerism and entertainment. It’s not for me to judge or dictate how people spend their leisure time. However, I do think it’s important for us to question whether consumerism and digital culture have changed the way we use our time. If so, what impact have these changes had on our ability to relax and be with ourselves?

I am most relaxed when I am outdoors: feeling at peace with nature is my yin to the yang of life’s greater demands. These writings and my wider explorations of photography that accompany them are a labour of love but also a way for me to question and explore the importance of nature and the environment in our lives as we plough headlong towards a more dangerous and uncertain path of global warming and climate change.

Ahead of this walk from Chorleywood West to Bottom House Farm Lane, I researched the route of HS2 and where it would intercede my ramble. Not long after passing Chiltern Open Air Museum I arrived at the construction of HS2’s Chalfont St Peter vent shaft. I’ve yet to come across any form of construction that is pleasing to the eye, and this was no exception. I followed the diverted footpath and considered whether the vent shaft at Chalfont St Giles would be any different.

In addition, there are two distinct points where The Chiltern Way crosses over the route of HS2’s Chiltern Tunnel. The first is a tiny alley at the back of a housing estate, at the second, I paused and decided to record the moment with my camera. Whilst doing so, I noticed a creeping sound behind me, and realised I was playing ‘What’s the time Mr Wolf’ with a herd of cows and a rather large bull!

In a post pandemic world we have become accustomed to working from home and using video conference calls for business communication. Through my work for newspapers in London, the cross-section of people I speak to prefer working from home and, if they do have to go into an office, would rather do so for two or three days a week. This could severely impact the economic prosperity of hospitality and related businesses in London and other cities across the country. How many people are going to use, or be able to afford to use a high-speed train that saves 29 minutes on an existing line? Perhaps more concerning is the impact it will have on the environment and, more specifically, the fragile chalk streams and ancient woodlands in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

As I neared the conclusion on my latest ramble, I stood high above the horizon looking west at the thin line of pathway rolling across the undulating hills. To my right, the ongoing construction of the Chalfont St Giles HS2 Vent Shaft. I looked down, put my right foot forward and focused on the path that lay ahead.

Matt Writtle is a photographer based in Chesham, Buckinghamshire.

SM: @mattwrittle – linktr.ee/mattwrittle