Music inspired by Levin Down with Stuart Morris

Stuart Morris has created a lovely song inspired by Levin Down Nature Reserve, The Lark of Levin Down. We asked him more about it.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your music

I am a writer, tutor, sometime musician and I also lecture in screenwriting at the University of Chichester. When working with younger children, I notice how they have a natural affinity with nature, a skill we often overlook in later life. 

I have been trying to stay connected with that inner nature child, writing and playing songs inspired by nature and exploring her restorative power whilst hoping to highlight the damage we risk doing by our neglect. The Lark of Levin Down is the first such song that I have managed to record professionally (thanks to Paul Smyth and Lem Parker).

And your connection to Levin Down?

I have been visiting Levin Down since moving to the area over 30 years ago. Back in the day, when I was writing regularly for TV shows like The Bill and Peak Practice, I would take myself up there to clear my head. It’s taken me a while to work out precisely what moves me. Initially, it was the majestic views and birdsong – it always feels like a genuinely wild place, even though it is not that far from anywhere.

What makes Levin Down special?

Levin Down is a perfect metaphor for diversity and resilience. Tiny pockets of earth that have blown from who-knows-where bring their own mix of flora and fauna to amaze us. Fragile foreign flowers nestle in the lee of rugged native thorns. Magically, they all thrive together – protected by the harshness of the slopes, historically too steep to cultivate (‘Leave Alone Hill’ as was explained to me by local artist John Bain who did the artwork for the release).

What are your thoughts about the connection between music and nature?

Music is nature. It starts with banging two sticks together, or twangy on a string, blowing on a reed… Whatever style of music you are into, I think it helps reconnect with that inner nature child.

What are your favourite sounds in nature?

Lark song, obviously. The mew of a circling Kite or Buzzard calling her young – you know she’s there before you see her. The percussive squeak, crack, moan of leaf, twig or branch on bark in a wind-blown forest. Or on a still day, up on top, the electric skyline hum that seems the absence of sound yet isn’t silence. It’s the aural life energy that you feel in a moment. You have to keep going out there to recharge your nature batteries.

Download The Lark of Levin Down here