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Rural L ife J Trevor-B0^ FIVE _€)WLS . ' ■ * • ^ 5-" glSLANDLIFE


-Ju)4Q_ 12Q 1 Anthony Coppin


reviews all the latest books of rural and regional interest


S T O R l% F R O M NATURE


fT!*.£NAfyRE DIARY OF OCTOGENARIAN by MARY E.CIU.HA\!m*e -r,


Five Owls \


, ' Author: Trevor Beer' Publisher: Halsgrove


‘ Price: £12.99 -> ' THIS book is in.the tra'dition of '


'<-I- great wildlife fiction that brings to ■ mind the classic tale of Tarka the Otter.


! ; : : It reminded me that our regards - , for, and understanding of, wildlife i i . is often based on the observations • ■ j:. r of others, and that storytelling is an i= ; .:r important and pleasurable means -s . by which we get to know more


fe ; 3bout the world’s wild animals. , - . The principal characters of the


: book are,the five species of owls fi’ found in the British Isles. ,:.V -


( Each story provides the back- ground against which the author ■


J , describes the lives of these fasci- J ' nating, elusive creatures.


; . Avoiding sentimentality but ^ th ' 5 an obvious passion for his subject, - ’ Trevor Beer draws a delicate por-


! trait of each of the owls, one which ' Ki-holds the reader’s attention with--? his gift for telling a good tale -


Wildlife Watching In The Slow Lane


Author: Mary E Gillham Publisher: Ryelands/Halsgrove Price:£12.99


HAVING lived 30 years in the coun­ tryside, I still feel like the townie I am. On a walk through the fields between Garstang and Longridge 1 only know the names of a handful of wildflowers. Not so Mary Gillham, veteran bota­


nist, explorer and chronicler of lovely landscapes.


The title - Wildlife Watching In The


Slow Lane - is the best way to watch wildlife, unhurriedly, and Dr Gillham excels at it. This is her 2008 day-to-day


journal of the ecologist, now in her 80s, and with time on her hands to explore the countryside. With her keen eye for detail, she


writes about the post-industrial green­ ing of coal tips and factory sites, and the creation of country parks and nature reserves. This is a great book for anyone


. interested in British wildlife, one written in an easy-to-read, narrative style.


^ This island life: f disccovering Britain’s ^ Offshore Gems-'


Author: Mary E Gillham Publisher: Halsgrove Price: £9.99


r lots of other smaller islands around v; . our fringes.


BRITIAN is an island nation - with ;


vy;,,- ; Mary Gillham ' : • has been exploring these islands,


i ; islets and isles for much of her life; ’ ^ bringing a sensitive yet scientific


1 perspective to the places she has studied. -


- The book explores the flora and - fauna plus human occupation found = . on them. - V .


-


From preciptious crags to coastal 5 sandbars and from clamorous-


-


5;, searbird colonies to black heather,-- - - 1 moors, each has its own special feel.T- g -. Among the islands she visits are ■: Walney fclosest to this part of the


j, : world), the Isle of Man, Connemara;- - i .Cape Clear, The Skellings, and the ■'' p Scandinavian-sounding Skokholm-’-- • off the Pembrokeshire coast. ' -


Chance to win one of the books


RURAL Life has copies of each of these books to give away as prizes. To stand a chance of winning one, answer the following question:


What is the name of the river in the Lancashire town which has won


numerous ‘Britain in Bloom’ awards? Send your answer on a postcard or


sealed down envelope marked Rural Life Book Contest to Rural Life, c/o Garstang Courier and Longridge News, 7 Pringle Court, Park Hill Road,'Garstani:, Preston, PR31LN. Remember to include your name,


address and daytime telephone number. Please state which book you would like to receive if you are successful. Deadline for entries is August 16,2010. ■ Winners of last month’s Rural Life


book competitions were: A Boot up Ullswater: Ruth Hartley, of


Worcester Avenue, Garstang. A Boot up Windermere: M


Herrington, of Higher Road, Longridge A Boot up Coniston: Mrs J Townley,


of Back Lane, Goosnargh. Spirit of the Shetland Pony: Wilf


Piner, of Brabiner Lane, Whittingham. Wicked Enchantments: History of the


Pendle Witches: Mrs Sylvia Wilding, of Sycamore Avenue, Garstang. History of the Whittingham Hospital


Railway 1884 to 1957: Christoper Dewhurst, of Chaigley Road, Longridge and Mary Thornber of Moss Lane. .Garstang.


\ \ ^ Join, our Discount Club^ shoK,


As a Club membet', you will have access to exclusive


competitions and special offers from our partners, which


include hotel deals, restaurant deals, and many more.


As a member of the online


Days Out UK Club you can print off over 300 discount vouchers


, that could help-you save over- -, £1500 at attractions likeThe- - Dungeons, Blackpool Pleasure Beach,The Sea Life Centres . - V and LEGOLAND.® ‘


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vvwvv.daysoutuk.com/Registerlntro.aspx ...and follow the simple registration process.


membership for just £14.95 , - - . , jiist visit:


faj - *rt Society life:


Another fabulous festival


; A LTHOUGH international tenor' - ■ Alfie Boe h ad : to cancel his - •


- / ^ appearance at the opening of . ' ..A .. , A th is year’s Ribchester Festival •


V ■. of Music and the Arts due to throat prob- , - lems, his'place was more than ably filled a t , ^


^- the 11th hour by Manchester tenor Joshua - ■ Ellicot.


.■ •-Joshua’s performances at both the begin- - ningand end of what was the 18th annual ; : Testival were hailed by concert-goers and


j organisers as fabulous, praise which also ‘ ■ ~ ~ covere'd the remainder of the event’s inspi~ ~ rational four-day programme.'


• ■ ■ As our photographs show; audiences


- were able to gatherand meet up each ■' 5 evening in the tranquil grounds of festival S- :: venue, the ancient St Wilfrid’s Church. They also enjoyed wine and Paul


■:-“-^Jackson’s art exhibition in the Parochial c.' ; rr.Hall and atmospheric candleriit late.";-;


, r-evening-events at St-Saviour’s Ghapel,'w-’ -Stydd ' And Martin Bussey, director of the festi- ft val, which was opened by former Tory MP ■


■ftftAnn Widdecombe, said he was extremely -ft pleased with the way everything had gone;: - ft


CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Ann Widdecombe, chairman of • ' directors Timft' Rainford and . , Carol Milne,- director and- .chairman of


' the friends of ■ the festival. , , ' -


- Director Brenda - Tyrrell, Elaine, -Wattsand her,.;


ftson: James: lan-'v; "Bentley, Jenny WelchendKath


. Briggs. Anne : Smith and Irena ; ; Hutchinson Artist Paul Jackson,


xentre, with Viki V


; Mason, Hannah Coulson, Guy, Mason and > Harriet Jay.


Jean and Peter Mawson. - Michael and Rosemary . Sabben. -


.


July, 2010 Rural Life


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