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This book seeks to celebrate Cholsey's special place in the natural world. The parish sits in the valley of the Thames beside that river with its flood meadows and connecting local brooks. Cholsey is surrounded by areas of outstanding natural beauty which include the Berkshire Downs, the Chilterns and gently rolling farmland. This superb rural setting helps to explain why Cholsey punches way above its weight in terms of wildlife.
The articles in this book were written over a period of almost thirty years by Eastender and published in The Forty magazine. The identity of Eastender has been one of Cholsey's worst kept secrets. This publication marks the end of that secrecy. The original articles have been revised and supplemented by new ones plus others by John Souster, Paul Chandler, Ben Hobbs and George East.
"A decision to write a regular thrice yearly or quarterly item about the environmentfor a local paper turned out to become a thirty year marathon for Tony Rayner! The fascinating outcomes is a glossy, well-illustrated volume which brings together this lengthy collection of articles plus some very interesting ancillary stories [...] Overall, Tony's deep passion for nature shines through in this tome along with his dedication to Cholsey, its history and its residents. If you get a chance, do grab a copy – it's a fascinating read."
– Peter Spillett, RSPB
