Shropshire Butterflies book, an artistic and poetic guide, contains poetry and artwork relating to Shropshire butterflies. Much of the artwork was exhibited, and the poetry read, yesterday in Morville Church, next to the Dower House gardens. It was a lovely day and I was very pleased that two of my illustrations were published (a drypoint of the Comma and a lino print of the Ringlet butterfly).
This book is the imaginative idea of the editor - Nadia Kingsley.
Extracts from the back cover:
`This is one of the most delightful 'green' poetry projects I have heard of in recent years.'
CAROL ANN DUFFY
'This book will take you through a year of butterflying in Shropshire. Starting in early spring with the species that have over-wintered as butterflies like the
Small Tortoiseshell, Brimstone, and Comma butterflies we meet each of the species as they emerge. Many people reveal their personal encounters, in poetry and
in images. You'll find acrylic and watercolour paintings, prints, glass, computer-manipulated images and also sculpture. There are many types of poems, but what
they all have in common is an expression of how unique each of the thirty nine Shropshire butterfly species are, and how it can be when we connect with them.
The caterpillars (larvae) and eggs (ova) are not forgotten, for even when we can't see any butterflies they are always there, in one form or another - and long may
it continue to be so. The book ends in winter, but with the thought of the next Spring and the next year's butterflies in the minds of us all. I understand the language
of science. But for me, and many others, nothing speaks the truth more clearly than poetry and art. '
Link to the Dower House Gardens, Morville.
