My Country Side- Martin Noble

British Sea Power’s guitarist discusses the influence of the land on the band’s music, the decorative charm of squash and the unsung genius of gate-locking mechanisms

The countryside has always fascinated me.

I remember Scout trips as a youngster, walking through ferns, falling in rivers and getting nettle rashes. My interest in wildlife led me to do a degree in zoology, and I love walking and bird watching. On my latest walk I bumped into yellowhammers, goldfinches, linnets and a bathing greenfich. I recently saw waxwings near where I live in Hove – such an odd physical presence and amazing colours, including the dash of red that looks like sealing wax.

I’ve had an allotment for three years, in which I try to grow things that aren’t readily available in supermarkets: scorzonera, tomatillo, salsify, achocha, oca and sorrel. I also love growing different squash – they taste and look brilliant and help decorate my home during the winter months.

I dislike referring to myself as an artist but I think artists often draw from personal experience. Urban music is very distinctive, reflecting a busier, maybe claustrophobic environment. Experiencing vast open spaces, being outdoors for long periods and catching your breath while looking in awe at a mountain landscape gets into your psyche. That is your competition and it sets a standard. You want to replicate it somehow.