Tower and Town, August 2019

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Editorial: Natural Marlborough

I know I am not alone in my love for the natural world. From childhood, family walks and the nature table at primary school fostered my interest. Television takes us beyond the local, enabling us to see creatures in natural habitats which we can never hope to visit, the superb photography presenting us with breathtaking scenes. All too often, however, we are also confronted with distressing messages about pollution, habitat loss and endangerment or, worse still, extinction of animals. I am left wondering what I can do about it.

The answer is complicated but part of it, I am sure, is to treasure what we have around us. The contributors to this edition do just that. Trevor Dobie writes eloquently of the wildlife in his garden. Anna Forbes describes her inspirational work for ARK, Gareth Harris his patient championing of the dormouse and Louise Cookson her care of her bees. Ellie Tull, Morgan Taylor and Henry Maulik show how the natural environment in Marlborough and its surroundings has inspired them in different ways. John Price’s article about the connexions of the Victorian nature writer, Richard Jefferies, with Marlborough shows that this is nothing new. By way of contrast, Lily Smith shares with us her transformative experience of volunteering in Gunjur. I hope you enjoy this stroll through the Marlborough countryside and beyond .

Sleeping Dormouse © Gareth Harris

Sarah Bumphrey