Tower and Town, March 2024 (view the full edition)Editorial: And CountryTower & Town we may be, but also tower and country just as much. No one who lives in and around Marlborough can fail to be aware of the closeness of our connection to the surrounding countryside, something that I suspect many of us during those long dark lockdown months became acutely conscious of. So, this edition is a celebration of that countryside and aims to provide a little insight into what makes it so special, and the good people and groups and organisations and businesses who help to keep it that way. I quickly discovered soon after I set off down this editorial road that I could fill half a dozen magazines with country related material, so if I have not included your favourite bit, apologies - but do write and tell us about it, or indeed comment on what's here. To my many contributors, grateful thanks for the articles, and above all for what you all do to give us a countryside that we can enjoy. Dr Jemma Batten (Project Director, Marlborough Downs Nature Enhancement Partnership) writes about the Making Space for Nature project. Kirstine Bowen from the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust writes about the Bay Meadows Nature Park. Matt Prior writes about wildlife conservation on the downs, and river-keeper John Hounslow talks to me about the River Kennet. David Pegden writes about his love of the local countryside through his camera lens (the cover and other lovely images in this edition are his); Nikki Morgans tells us about Forestry England's work in Savernake; Jamie Horton gives us an insight into the life of a dairy farmer; and I take a walk. In addition to which we have our army of wonderful regular contributors, including something from a local textile group. So much to enjoy, and so much to be thankful for. David Du Croz |