Marlborough College pupils joined forces with Action for the River Kennet (ARK) in planting more than 250 water crowfoot plants.
Lower Sixth pupils donned waders and joined local volunteers – including an Old Marlburian – as they planted the crowfoot in three different sites along the College’s stretch of the Kennet.
Crowfoot, or ranunculus, is the iconic white-flowering plant of chalk streams that helps control water levels and in doing so creates habitats for other flora and fauna and drives biodiversity.
It is sensitive to velocity, depth, siltation, water quality, light and temperature as well as grazing by swans and geese. It is in general decline along chalk streams and has not been present on the College’s stretch for many years.
Hugo Tilney
English Department
