‘The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady’ by Edith Holden

 Edith Holden was a big influence on me in the 1970s - 80s. I loved reading the facsimile reproduction of her nature notes from 1906, printed in 1977, and subsequently bought further hardback volumes: ‘The Nature Notes 1905’ (a newly-discover predecessor),’The Edwardian Lady: the story of Edith Holden’ and ‘The Country Diary Companion’ to tie in with a television series in 1984. My love of nature, illustration, prose and poetry all fused together, and I found reading her nature notes both absorbing and relaxing. Similarly I used to look forward to watching the television series, beautifully filmed and acted, after a long day teaching full-time. It took me to another world and encouraged me to take up botanical illustration art classes. I loved drawing flowers but found water colour too difficult a medium, so I invested in a set of colouring pencils in a large wooden case, not unlike those I had as a child. My enthusiasm grew as I took delight in drawing and colouring fungi, inspired by another favourite illustrator: Beatrix Potter. I still watch the DVD of the television series, and although my colouring pencils are worn-down by former pupils and grandchildren these days, I loved the names of the colours as I did as a child: Chartreuse, Madder Carmine, Pale Ultramarine and Indigo.