2020-2021. The UK population have been in and out of national lockdowns. Meanwhile, Britains youngest National Park, the South Downs turned an unceremonious 10 years old.
These are portraits of local households having their statutory right of once-a-day excercise, thankful of the open green spaces the South Downs offer. From the white cliffs of the Seven sisters to discreet woods at the foot of grassy hills. Images were taken in the first spring lockdown and third winter lockdown.
All photos have captions and names of subjectsd subjects with views on the corona virus and what the South Downs National Park means to them.
All photographs by Jonathan Browning and taken in Spring 2020 and Winter 2021.
Cyra with her dog teddy at Cissbury Ring in January 2021. Lockdown 3.0
×
Lucy and Stephen Foy with their two kids Esme and George, from Brighton. Lucy has recently been made redundant due to the virus. Why out on South Downs; " This is our statutory daily exercise and quality time" says Lucy. .. " We come to the South Downs a lot, its our playground and now the kids are older we can use it better, by going cycling, walking and climbing hills" Stephen replies on any benefits of the virus, "Its slowed everything down which we really like, so its not all bad"
×
Jessica Partridge and Ondre Santos, a couple from Eastbourne. "They have been coming the the Seven Sisters nearly everday whilst sunny to watch the sunset together. " We are both out of work now and Andrea has bad asthma, so we are being very careful, its the first time out today ...our food is brought to us by my sister so we dont need to go out shopping" We come to the South Downs alot, or just for a drive.
×
David Pierce, a flower photographer at Clayton Hill to photograph Gauze in the frost. January 2021. Lockdown 3.0
×
Jessica Partridge and Ondre Santos, a couple from Eastbourne. "They have been coming the the Seven Sisters nearly everday whilst sunny to watch the sunset together. " We are both out of work now and Andrea has bad asthma, so we are being very careful, its the first time out today ...our food is brought to us by my sister so we dont need to go out shopping" We come to the South Downs alot, or just for a drive.
×
Father, Abu, Wife, Omayma and Child, Ahmed. They have come all the way from Slough, " It is our 4 year anniversary and we wanted to come somewhere special but with no people, around us the parks are too busy" Asked about the virus situations, " Its quite tragic and we hope the best for all the people affected but it and encourage people to get fit and boost their immune system" It is their first time the the South Downs National Park, and their closest. " It is beautiful and lovely" Cuckmere Haven Beach.
×
Megan, a student visits the Iron age fort site of Cissbury Ring outside Worthing on a frosty morning in January 2021. Lockdown 3.0
×
Becka Bowtell (26) in orange bib and Liz Jones (24) in yellow bib. Liz has broken up from university and Becka works with racing horses. Becka says " I have been riding horses up on the South Downs since I was five years old, its absolutely a great thing the South Downs were made a National Park. From Ditchling,
×
Ditchling Beacon in lockdown 3.0. January 2021. Lockdown 3.0
×
Tara Panchaud with daughters Libby and Hannah (17 and 18) From Hurstpierpoint. " We can just follow the government advice and do it respectfully" Tara is helping repatriate Americans back to USA on a flight on Wednesday.
×
James and his dog Delphi on a walk at Cissbury Ring in January 2021. Lockdown 3.0
×
Louis Eastwood (53) A Project Manager for glass partitioning. Why is he here on the Downs; " I am taking a break from work (home working) to get some fresh air and exercise. My job would normally take me out the house to site visits around London which I would commute to" About the South Downs " Its fantastic the South Downs was made into National Park, its preventing houses being made near here. Green spaces are precious and everybody wants them, including developers" Photographed on the area known locally as Tank tracks - where the British Army landscaped a hill side on South Downs for its tank test drives.
×
Isabel, a nurse at Worthing Hospital on the chemotherapy ward on her week off work with husband, John. She has has seen the pressure grow at Worthing and the cancer ward being adversly affected due to Covid. Cissbury Ring in January 2021, Lockdown 3.0
×
Justin Felton (43), Laura Felton (39) with children Hattie (7) and Jackson (8) with their dog, Doogle (6). Coming from Antsy. " We do home schooling in the morning and then have some sensible outside fun in the afternoon ... " we feel incredibly fortunate about where we live" Photographed on top of downs between Clayton and Ditching.
×
Penny and David Shannon (67 and 71) from Hurspierpoint. " Naturally it is scary as we are in a vulnerable age group and so we are self isolating, we are also worried for all our other family in the area. We go on walks where we think there will be few people" Penny says ' Its been a liftime ambition to climb this hill, and thanks to the virus I have finally done it!" Asked about South Downs as National Park; "I cant see any changes but its great to now have a national park on your doorstep"
×
Hans Peter (51), from Hassocks works in agricultural Machinery. Doing a cycle ride as a break from home working. "I've always come up here, its a nice place to sit and have a beer. Ive been visiting this spot since I was 12/13." About the virus " It is what it is, cant do so much" About the National Park, "Definately a great thing to be a National Park, I hope they never build on it, Ive done the South Downs Way a few times, I come here all the time" Photographed on the area known locally as Tank tracks - where the British Army landscaped a hill side on South Downs for its tank test drives.
×
Abel Gainer, An IT support worker for the NHS on a walk in Ditchling beacon. January 2021, Lockdown 3.0.
×