A shameless plug for one of our team members...

Rick is a solid, long-term member of the Warwick 100 team; regularly found walking in the area, especially in his beloved St Nicholas' Park.    His contributions to our list so far this year have included Cetti's warbler, little egret and our first sand martins and willow warblers of Spring.  But, when not finding us new birds, Rick is busy writing - and publishing - his wonderful words.

Park Life: A Year in the Wildlife of an Urban Park

Rick's first book, published in 2020, diarises a year in his local park, where he spends time watching and listening for everything that nature has to give - from birds and insects to trees and flowers.  This is not just a collection of wildlife records, however.  Instead, each chapter is an endearing medley of musings,  nuggets of knowledge and some beautiful poetry and quotes from the past.  The icing on the cake is Rick's own hand-drawn illustrations, nicely dotted amongst the pages.  

Rick's book proves just how much nature there is around, even in an urban park in the Midlands, if we can just choose to slow down and really look at the world.

A River Avon Year

Recently, Rick published his second book.  Set a little further afield, he follows the Shakespeare's Avon Way from its source, in Naseby, to where is converges with the River Severn, in Tewkesbury.  An 88 mile journey, Rick walked it in sections over a twelve month period, enjoying the changing seasons and scenery as he makes his way through the towns and villages that line the river.

Reading the book, it feels as though I'm actually there, strolling with Rick.  His writing is much like the river itself - thoughts and wonderings meandering across the pages just as the Avon winds through the countryside with gentle, unrushed purpose.  Along with Rick's trademark cocktail of wildlife sightings, historical stories and anecdotes, reading the book makes for an enjoyable few hours' escape from a busy world.

So there we go - a published author in our team.  

If you'd like to get hold of one (or both) of his books, here are the links to Amazon.  

https://amzn.eu/d/h0FD3vm

https://amzn.eu/d/6F9rESq

Although, even better would be to shop local, as the books are stocked at Warwick Books, Warwick Visitor Centre, Kenilworth Books, Brandon Marsh and other local outlets along the Avon Valley.

Rick can also be found giving talks at Warwick Words, signing his books around the town and is an active member of the Warwick Natural History Society and the Town Council volunteers.  We do hope the fame and success of Rick's books doesn't go too much to his head...we still need him spotting new birds for the Warwick 100 list!