On the Promenade, Not the Podium: A Morning with Farmers in Llandudno

Part of the Fields of Isolation Project

This morning, I stood with Welsh farmers on the Llandudno promenade, not just as an observer, but as a participant, camera in hand, part of the Fields of Isolation Project.

The protest was held to coincide with the Welsh Labour Party’s annual conference taking place just across the road. Yet, despite the close proximity, not a single Labour delegate crossed over to speak with the farmers. That silence said a lot.

It’s a shame, really. Politics too often stays tucked behind posh venue doors, far away from the pavements or in this case, the promenade, where the real conversations are happening. While speeches and strategies unfolded indoors, outside was where the passion lived. There was anger, yes, but also an overwhelming sense of worry. Worry about livelihoods, about futures, about being heard.

The support from the general public was heartfelt and consistent. Horns honked. Conversations sparked. People stopped to listen. You could feel the shared frustration, not just from the farmers but from a wider community that knows just how vital these people are not just as food producers, but as custodians of our land, language, and rural life.

I was glad to be there. This protest was about more than policies; it was about presence. About showing up.

I shot the event on film with the F3 and 28mm lens, to the spirit of the Field of Isolation Project, and those 5 rolls now holds the stories of the day, waiting to be developed and added to the documentary collection. I only took one digital photo on my iPhone, a tractor still covered in fresh grass clippings. It won’t win any awards, but it captured something honest. That farmer hadn’t stopped to polish or pose. He had come straight from the field to the front line.

I have nothing but admiration for our farmers. They deserve more than polite applause from a stage, they deserve real engagement, real support, and a real voice in decisions that shape their world.

I’m grateful I was there today, and grateful to those who spoke to me, knowingly or not, through their actions and their presence. We need more of that.