by Stephen Moss
And one fine day next spring, as I wander along the back lanes of this quiet country parish, I shall see and hear them once again, bringing joy and gladness to my heart.
Acknowledgements
THE GENESIS OF a book like this is essentially personal, but its progress from idea to finished work involves many people. My agent Broo Doherty was, as always, wonderfully encouraging and perceptive, and helped me to decide that this was indeed the right time to write about the wildlife of my home patch. At Square Peg, Rosemary Davidson commissioned the book and guided it to its conclusion with her usual enthusiasm and skill, while Simon Rhodes and Iree Pugh oversaw the design. I would particularly like to thank Chris Wormell, the cover artist, and Harry Brockway, whose splendid scraperboard illustrations truly evoke the passing of the seasons and the comings and goings of the parish wildlife. At Random House, I should also like to thank Kate Bland, Ruth Warburton, Alison Faulkner, Will Smith and Vicki Watson, for all their efforts to promote the book.
Several people either accompanied me on my walks and cycle rides around the parish, or gave me the benefit of their experience and observations. In no particular order they are: Peter Marren, Adrian Boots, Alison Tutt (and her children Lewis and Harriet), David Ballance, Ed Drewitt, Ruth Peacey, Luke Davie and Graham Coster.
In and around the village itself, I especially want to thank my neighbours: Mick Lockyer, Rick and Heather Popham and their family, Marc and Dawn Talbot, Steve Short, John Creber and his grandson James, Val Stone, Dennis Kurle, Susie and Kevin Fowler, Tom and Anne Hanlon, Mike (‘the jolly butcher’), Jon Glauert and the children and staff at Avalon Camps, the organisers of Mark Harvest Home, and all the villagers of Mark and the surrounding parishes, whose love of their local wildlife is passionate and profound.
My dear friend Sue Caola kindly read the manuscript and made many helpful suggestions, especially on the history of the village and the surrounding areas. I also owe a great debt to Pamela Slocombe, whose book Mark: a Somerset Moorland Village, was a valuable source of historical information. I continue to be inspired by two great writers, Gilbert White and John Clare, both of whom understood the significance of the local, and what it can tell us about the bigger picture.
My wife Suzanne, and my children, David, James, Charlie, George and Daisy, are a constant inspiration. The younger children, in particular, show a passion for wildlife which I hope they will retain as they grow up in these wonderful rural surroundings. We moved here from London five years ago for a better quality of life, and this book is in part a celebration of our leap of faith. It was, without doubt, the best thing we ever did.
I owe a special debt of thanks to my friend and colleague, the broadcaster and radio producer Brett Westwood. Brett accompanied me on a memorable cycle ride around the parish on a glorious day at midsummer. He is the finest naturalist I know, and as we made our way along the back lanes and droves he opened my eyes to a whole new world of wild flowers and insects.
Finally, I would like to pay tribute to the wonderful wildlife of this parish; not least the two species which give this book its title, the wild hares and hummingbirds.
This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
Version 1.0
Epub ISBN 9781409041672
www.randomhouse.co.uk
Published by Square Peg 2011
2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1
Copyright © Stephen Moss 2011
Illustrations copyright © Harry Brockway 2011
The author has asserted his rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser
First published in Great Britain in 2011 by
Square Peg
Random House, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road,
London SW1V 2SA
www.randomhouse.co.uk
Addresses for companies within The Random House Group Limited can be found at: www.randomhouse.co.uk/offices.htm
The Random House Group Limited Reg. No. 954009
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 9780224086721
www.vintage-books.co.uk
