On the Marsh: A Year Surrounded by Wilderness and Wet by Simon Barnes
On the Marsh: A Year Surrounded by Wilderness and Wet, by Simon Barnes
When writer Simon Barnes heard a Cetti's warbler sing out as he turned up to look at a house for sale, he knew immediately that he had found his new home. The fact that his garden backed onto an area of marshy land only increased the possibilities, but there was always the fear that it might end up in the wrong hands and be lost to development or intensive farming. His wife saw through the delicate negotiations for the purchase.
Once they'd bought it, they began to manage it as a conservation area, working with the Wildlife Trust to ensure it became as appealing as possible to all species. For their son Eddie, who has Down's syndrome, it became a place of calm and inspiration. In this book, we see how nature can always bring surprises, and share in the triumphs as new animals - Chinese water deer, otters and hedgehogs - arrive, and watch as the number of species of bird tops 100 and keeps on growing.
Our review
“Without the wild world we are less than ourselves.”
In 2012, just before the London Olympics, Simon Barnes, acclaimed journalist and former sportswriter, bought a house and 5 acres of marshland in the south-east of Norfolk. On the Marsh is an account of the year that followed, as him and his family turn the land into a conservation area, collaborating with the Wildlife Trust.
This endearing, gentle and yet powerfully written autobiography highlights the importance of the marshes of Norfolk and Suffolk. We experience the joy as new animals arrive on the marsh, including a pair of marsh harriers, and the disappointment when chemical run-off from neighbouring farmland creates a nettles monoculture in newly turned earth. And yet, through it all, the new land perseveres.
Wild Reads Book Choice
On the Marsh is part of our Wild Reads project in partnership with Suffolk Wildlife Trust, celebrating the connection between the natural world and the written word.
Enjoyed this title? Let us know what you think on Twitter by tagging @SuffolkLibrary and @SuffolkWildlife and using the hashtag #WildReads.
Supporting booklist
Inspired by On the Marsh by Simon Barnes, this month's Wild Reads theme is the importance of protecting marshes and the joy of seeing new wildlife inhabiting a conservation area. Explore our supporting titles on healing nature and the wetlands that surround us.
Suffolk Wildlife Trust has shared a list of the best marsh landscapes in Suffolk inspired by On the Marsh, brimming with a variety wildlife. Perfect for keen nature spotters.
On the Marsh is also available to listen to as an audiobook.