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Disney's Obi-Wan Kenobi Creates Big Issues For Small Town - Little Marlow Citizens Voice Concerns To Protect Local Nature Reserve

Would You Be Concerned?

By The Nerd HabitPublished 3 years ago 4 min read
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Written By Christopher D. Horton

Little Marlow, a small village and civil parish in Buckinghamshire, England, is historically a quiet town. Located on the River Thames' north bank, Little Marlow has not been in the news since Scary Spice's wedding to her first husband in 1998. Needless to say, life in Little Marlow is peaceful and tranquil, which I am sure most of its citizens rather enjoy.

So, what has propelled Little Marlow back into the worldwide spotlight? Star Wars, of course.

Near the end of September 2020, set building equipment appeared near the Spade Oak Nature Reserve. The Spade Oak Nature Reserve, a lake surrounded by trees, shrubs, and old gravel pits, is a sanctuary for many wild birds. Mallard, ducks, pochards, teals, kingfishers, and gadwalls are just a few of the wild birds that claim Spade Oak as it's home.

Spade Oak Nature Reserve Is A Bird Sanctuary

It turns out the set building equipment belongs to Disney, who started building their new set for the upcoming production of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Once construction began, large marquees, noise, and light pollution filled the area near the reserve, attracting the attention of concerned citizens. Martin Braint, one of those citizens, voiced his concerns stating,

"It is the noise, the lights, the huge marquees that have been put up and you can see it from the other side of the lake. We have had films in the village before and it is quite exciting having things go on for a short time."

He is right; most people would be excited to have a major film production right outside their doorstep. However, for Mr. Braint, his concern is not having a film production in the area but rather the length of time the production will stay.

"We have had films in the village before and it is quite exciting having things go on for a short period of time. But when they are considering carrying it on for years or into the future, it is a different matter."

Spade Oak Lake

Also, a group of local animal and plant enthusiasts known as Wild Marlow has shared their concerns about the effects the production will have on local wildlife. A representative had this to say about the current state of the Spade Oak Nature Reserve:

"Currently, an extensive building site is under construction near the lake, including huge marquees and parking in the adjacent fields. Objections from local residents mention a great deal of light, noise and vibration disturbance from vehicles traveling along the normally quiet road where the footpath crosses, day and night."

Knowing that Disney could possibly film in the area for up to three years due to Covid restrictions slowing down production, citizens are uneasy about living near such a massive set. Because not only are the noise and lights going to be disturbing, locals will also experience difficult traffic and a much busier town with an influx of workers arriving when filming begins.

To finish their statement, the Wild Marlow representative states their dissatisfaction with the efforts of town officials:

"Despite this, and objections including our own and from the Bucks, Berks, & Oxon Wildlife Trust, Little Marlow Parish Council supports the amended application. We believe there are and will continue to be significant negative impacts on wildlife, including protected species, as well as on the surrounding natural environment and habitats if the application is approved."

Fast forward to January 2020, with the application approved, finalization of the set has brought the complaints of Little Marlow citizens back to the forefront.

Recently, several reports about the Obi-Wan Kenobi set being finished in Little Marlow have mentioned the locals' sour sentiments. Many of these reports have not voiced the real concerns of the citizens. Most of the stories focus on the set being built on an abandoned quarry, with little to no mention of the citizen's concerns about the Spade Oak Nature Reserve.

The Completed Obi-Wan Kenobi Set

This writer's opinion is that the citizens have a legitimate complaint about how the Obi-Wan set will change their lives for potentially the next three years. Protecting a beautiful landscape that contains important wildlife is a concern that indeed should be voiced.

In conclusion, the Little Marlow town council and Disney have a big responsibility to protect those lands, and a strong partnership between them, I believe, will produce good results. For the TV show and, most importantly, all of the quacking ducks and singing birds that call the Spade Oak Nature Reserve, it's home. See the entire satellite view of the Spade Oak Nature Reserve here.

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Source(s):

Bucks Free Press, rspb, The Irish Times

star wars
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About the Creator

The Nerd Habit

Welcome to the world through my nerdy lens! I'm Christopher D. Horton, the passionate mind behind The Nerd Habit. With a controller in one hand and a pen in the other, I navigate the fascinating universe of video games, movies, and music.

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