Tower and Town, November 2026 (view the full edition)My AllotmentMy allotment can best be termed an organic manifestation of a bountiful dream - or a weed strangled nightmare, depending on time of year, or my mood when I pay it a visit. Covering just five square meters in the idyllic setting of Stonebridge Lane, my allotment has become a haven to which I can retreat for good company, tranquility and restoration and even a good place to work out my frustrations with a shovel and fork. In middle age, I feel like I have taken up an allotment at the appropriate time in my life - although I am heartened by the number of younger faces who are joining the community. I am always fascinated to learn from the more experienced keepers as I observe nuanced ways of planting my seeds and tubers. Novel ways to ward off the multitude of pests which seek to destroy my hard work are in evidence whenever I stroll around the site looking for inspiration. And it has provided a beautiful site to visit with my wife and son. During the recent glorious weather, we have taken to spending the evening at Stonebridge enjoying the sunset and the evening chorus of the birds. With the gentle burbling of the River Kennet in the background, there is nowhere better to relax with a cup of tea, or the occasional fish and chips. The site plays host to a vast array of our local fauna; Sid the grass snake has a reserved dwelling, deer, pheasants, hedgehogs, newts, field mice to name just a few. One of three allotment sites in Marlborough, Stonebridge has had a turbulent few years. Following the flood in January 2024, there was a risk that run off sewage may have contaminated the ground on the site. That resulted in a fallow year for many as the ground remained too wet to plant anything, and anything that did grow was unadvisable to eat. However, a year of recovery led to a reinvigorated site and a renewed enthusiasm from the allotment holders in 2025. The community worked hard to tend their own sites but also ensure drainage ditches were cleared regularly, the pond was dug deeper and shared equipment was serviceable. With assistance from the Town Council, there has been a programme of work to tidy up compost heaps and create a picnic area for the sharing of excess produce. Then in 2026, like the rest of the country, the record temperatures took their toll on seedlings and many other early crops. However, due to the low elevation of the site next to the river, we are blessed that those crops which did take flourished and created a great array of fruits and vegetables throughout the season. It has been truly heartening to see the sense of community in Stonebridge as produce is shared between allotmenteers and also with Marlborough’s fantastic Community Fridge initiative. If you have not paid it a visit in the George Lane car park, I would encourage you to do so. But for me, tending to my allotment has become a vital tool to relax the mind. There are no complex problems which cannot be resolved, or at least made more manageable, while gently tilling the soil in preparation for new seeds. No greater joy to be gained than that of lifting a forkful of potatoes from the ground after the tops have wilted. And on the bad days, no better remedy for frustration than ripping out the unwanted weeds prevent the glorious results we work so hard to cultivate. My allotment has become my open air ‘hurricane room’. For those of you who have one too - I applaud your dedication. For those who do not, I thoroughly commend it to you when the time is right. And for the simply curious, please consider paying a visit to any of Marlborough’s allotment sites. They are all glorious in their own ways and it gives us great pleasure to share the experience.  Cllr Mark Luson |