Think of Ireland and what comes to mind. Forty shades of greenThis ancient mystic land is much more colourful than that - with a stunning variety of flora and fauna waiting to be enjoyed. And Co. Wexford, located in the southeast corner of the island, is particularly rich in its diversity of wildlife and habitats. Bordered by a mountain range on its western flank and by seas to the east and south, Co Wexford is a feast for the senses - with spectacular coastlines and islands, rolling hills, rich patchwork countryside, rugged cliffs, ever changing sand-dune systems, brackish lagoons, large estuaries and meandering streams and rivers. Come with us and explore all this natural beauty in 'Wexford's Wild Heritage'. This book encompasses the locations visited and the wildlife experienced by Alan, Chris and Don during a year-long recording of a radio series. Page after colourful page features wonderful wildlife photos and unique artwork. The images speak for themselves with just a smattering of explanatory text to help with locations and identifications. You don't have to be Irish to appreciate and enjoy 'Wexford's Wild Heritage, a wildlife book produced by people like yourself with a love for the natural world. The enthusiastic people who contributed their time and knowledge to help us achieve our goal made our journey through the seasons even more enjoyable. We express our sincere gratitude to you all. Based on 'Wexford's Wild Heritage', a twenty-five part Radio Series grant-aided by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and broadcast by South East Radio this publication brings together some of the natural wildlife delights of Co. Wexford. The opportunity for the Wildside Team to explore Co. Wexford, which is not only steeped in history, but can boast such rich and varied landscapes, was a tremendous privilege. There are many un-spoilt areas to discover that are a feast for the senses - stunning coastlines and islands, rolling hills, rich patchwork countryside, rugged cliffs, ever changing sand-dune systems, brackish lagoons, large estuaries and meandering streams and rivers. And it is the flora and fauna, both resident and migrant, to be found in these habitats that we have tried to encompass within the pages of this book. The twelve months we spent visiting as many locations as we could around the County happened to coincide with some of the wettest and coldest weather on record for decades. In spite of this we had some wonderful wildlife encounters -- from the top of Mount Leinster to the rocky outcrop of Hook Head, from Camolin Woods to the Ballyteigue Dunes, from the Slaney to Great Saltee - our yearlong journey through Co. Wexford's seasons was inspirational. The enthusiastic people who contributed their time and knowledge to help us achieve our goal made that journey easier and more enjoyable. We express our sincere gratitude to you all. Lets hope this book will encourage you to get out and discover more of what our amazing County has to offer -- Wexford's Wild Heritage.

These glorious hills, rightly described as an area of outstanding natural beauty, contain a treasure trove of spectacular views, along with flowers and wildlife just asking to be photographed. In the following pages I take you through the seasons, offering just a taste of what can be seen, in the hope that it will tempt you to explore this wonderful countryside for yourselves. From hidden gems like the stone crocodile head on a fresh water spring in Compton Abdale, and fearsome gargoyles staring down at you from ancient churches, to the grandeur of castles and the splendour of stately homes, I hope to bring the Cotswolds alive for you with the help of my camera. So as not to spoil the images with excess wording I have let the pictures speak for theirselves but at the back of the book you will find a page-by-page explanation of the photographs, along with the locations. This book was made possible by the help and kindness shown to me by the various attractions, allowing me to roam freely over their properties in search of interesting views, fascinating artefacts and plentiful wildlife

‘The Gustav Holst Way’ is the first guidebook to describe the 35-mile rambling route across the Cotswolds to celebrate the life and work of the composer Gustav Holst. Published exactly 100 years after Holst began work on The Planets, the route visits many of the places that were important to the young Holst as his musical career took wing. Among the highlights are the house in Cheltenham where he was born (now the Holst Birthplace Museum) and several venues in the Cotswolds where he played, conducted and taught music. The richly illustrated guidebook divides the walk into five easy/moderate sections (with four optional detours) and includes detailed maps, points of historical interest and all the practical information you need to follow in Gustav Holst’s footsteps from Cranham to Wyck Rissington. The Holst Birthplace Museum Gustav Holst, one of England’s greatest composers, was born in a Regency terraced house in Cheltenham in 1874. The house has been carefully restored and converted into a ‘living museum’ that captures the atmosphere of the era, both above and below stairs. The most eye-catching of the museum’s collection of 3,000 items is the piano on which Holst composed The Planets, as popular as ever nearly 100 years after it was published. Step inside the Museum and see the piano Holst used to compose The Planets. Find out how he developed into a world-class composer by examining and listening to original manu*s written when he was a schoolboy in Cheltenham. "