ON NATURE'S RINK

WHEN CONDITIONS ALIGN, FEN SKATERS GLIDE OVER THE FROZEN LANDSCAPES. PHOTOGRAPHER HARRY GEORGE HALL CAPTURES THE FLEETING BEAUTY OF THIS RARE SPORT

“PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FEN SKATING IN EAST ANGLIA SINCE MEDIEVAL TIMES” During sustained periods of cold weather, flooded meadows in East Anglia freeze and create a safe and enchanting terrain for skating. Weather conditions must be precise, which makes fen skating a rare and fleeting sport. The surface relies on shallow flooding prior to a cold snap; optimum conditions enable less than a handful of skating days every few years. Last winter, photographer Harry George Hall stumbled upon this niche pursuit and forged links with a small but dedicated online community, making trips to fen skating ‘hotspots’ only to find thin or melted ice, rain, flooded roads and darkness. But he knew that when the conditions aligned, it would be worth it. When the day arrived, he turned up to a clear sky…

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The Simple Things (Digital) - 1 Issue, February 2024

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