Tower and Town, April 2016

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Editorial: The Kennet

The River Kennet runs from source to sea through many miles of English countryside and our very own Marlborough town is fortunate enough to be one of the scenic sites along the way. Aside from the unique animal and plant life that the river is home to, it is also one of few chalk streams on our planet. In this edition of Tower and Town, pupils from Marlborough College have explored its history further, all the way from the Neolithic period and the industrial development of the Kennet to the ways in which we can work now to protect and conserve the river to make sure that it is part of the town’s future. Research by groups such as ARK shows the impact of pollution and abstraction on our environment and even how invasive flora and fauna are threatening the stream.

There are also creative accounts telling of fishing and the beauty of daily life on the river as well as an article that looks into the life and works of the great poet Lord Tennyson and the role of the Kennet in his inspiration. You will also find a short history of fly fishing, and the influence that the famous riverkeeper Frank Sawyer had on this iconic chalk stream.

Isabel Sanderson