Some events leave a lasting impression long after the final book has been signed and the chairs stacked away. Our recent evening with Chris Sperring and Ian Parsons was certainly one of those occasions, bringing together a packed audience for a fascinating, entertaining and thought provoking exploration of Britain’s wildlife and our relationship with the natural world. Inspired by Chris’s Ghosts of the Night and Ian’s Tarka Revisited, the event celebrated not only two wonderful books but also a shared passion for nature, conservation and storytelling. From the moment the discussion began, the conversation flowed effortlessly from one topic to the next.

The evening also gave us an opportunity to showcase our new microphone and AV system and to welcome Chloe Uden from RHS Rosemoor, who spoke about the exciting Read More at Rosemoor partnership that we are developing alongside Appledore Book Festival.

As the discussion unfolded, Chris and Ian brought an extraordinary depth of knowledge. Chris is recognised as one of the UK’s leading owl experts, while Ian’s research for Tarka Revisited has given him unique insight into otters, rivers and the wider environment. Ian also revealed his lifelong fascination with mustelids, the animal family that includes otters, badgers, martens, ferrets and weasels, and shared several stories that were met with a mixture of disbelief and laughter, particularly from family members in the audience who clearly recognised more than a grain of truth in them.

As good friends do Ian and Chris challenged, complemented and encouraged each other in equal measure. We were fascinated listening to Chris demonstrating the calls and sounds of different owls, a first for a Bookery audience and an unforgettable highlight of the evening.

The conversation ranged widely across rewilding, farming, river pollution, climate change and education. Ian explained how Tarka Revisited grew from his desire to understand what had happened to otters in the century since Henry Williamson’s iconic book was published, while Chris shared the story of how a childhood telescope and the call of an owl first sparked a fascination that would shape his life. There were sobering reflections on environmental challenges, but also a clear sense of hope. Both authors reminded us that nature has an extraordinary capacity to recover when given the space and support to do so, that we all have a responsibility to encourage.

Adding to the occasion was the presence in the audience of the UK’s leading otter expert. Having one of Britain’s foremost owl specialists on stage and one of its foremost otter specialists sitting among the audience felt rather special and said much about the quality of the conversation and the depth of interest it generated.

Our audience played a huge part in making the evening such a success. A steady flow of thoughtful questions kept the discussion moving in new directions and highlighted the strong interest in wildlife and conservation within our community. In fact, there were so many questions that bringing the event to a close proved one of the hardest jobs of the evening. We hope that Chris and Ian enjoyed their time with us as much as we enjoyed listening to them.