Three Further Tails. A Rescue on the Railway Land The Bone Yard On Thin Ice. A story and colouring book

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1 Three Further Tails A Rescue on the Railway Land The Bone Yard On Thin Ice A story and colouring book written by Julian Warrender & illustrated by Lyndsey Smith

2 I dedicate these little tails to my wonderful sons Joseph and Jamie, who have tolerated my love affairs with all our dogs. Three Further Tails These three gentle stories will, I am sure, be enjoyed by children especially those who have a dog in the family. The idea that their pets minus owners may all gather as a gang to play is most appealing. - Ronda Armitage, author of The Lighthouse Keeper children s books and other titles The Railway Land and the dilapidated gardens of Leighside House are part of a beautiful, informal nature reserve on the edge of Lewes in Sussex. The area was saved by local residents in 1987 and brought back to life for the enjoyment of all the community, their pets and wildlife. Published by Hare & Heron Press 14 Court Road, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 2SA Written by Julian Warrender Illustrated by Lyndsey Smith Designed and produced by Carlotta Luke Edited by Dorothy Stannard Grateful thanks to Edward Reeves Photography, Lewes, for authenticating certain images in the stories Hare & Heron Press logo designed and drawn by James Otway Printed by Gemini Print using vegetable-based ink on FSC accredited paper Copyright Julian Warrender 2016 ISBN: A Rescue on the Railway Land The Bone Yard On Thin Ice written by Julian Warrender & illustrated by Lyndsey Smith

3 Table of Contents A story and colouring book A Rescue on the Railway Land 2 The Bone Yard 26 On Thin Ice 50

4 A Rescue on the Railway Land Summer has arrived, and the Railway Land is a tangle of colour. Sweet-scented honeysuckle and pink dog roses tumble from branches and butter-yellow flag irises stand tall on the riverbanks. The birds are busy caring for their babies. Tiny, sooty-black moorhen chicks skitter among the reed beds where the velvet-headed bulrushes grow. Rooks cackle in their untidy treetop nests, Caw caw caw!, and fuzzy, buzzy bees gather pollen from the blossoms. 2 3

5 Ivy and her friends in The Railway Land Dogs Club have come to romp in the spiky sedge grass that grows near the canals. They pant in the heat with their pink tongues lolling, and take a drink in the shallows at the water s edge. Ivy s soft, silky fur has been cut short to keep her cool and Molly s curly-wurly coat has been shorn like a sheep. 4 5

6 There is a new member of the club Frida, the tiny-weeny Chihuahua, whose ancestors came from faraway Mexico. She is so minute she can fit in a flowerpot and weighs no more than a bag of sugar. Her favourite game is hide-and-seek, as she can tuck herself away in small spaces. 6 7

7 Ivy and her friends are members of The Railway Land Dogs Club. They love to meet up, lark about, and have magical adventures on the disused land on the edge of town. These three delightful stories capture the charm of the Railway Land, and gently teach children to observe and respect wildlife and history. The entrancing illustrations include several that children can colour in themselves. I particularly like The Bone Yard. Very good illustrations; Lyndsey really conveys the different characters and gives us a lovely idea of their surroundings. I do hope this gets the success it richly deserves. - Antony Penrose, farmer, author and director of the Lee Miller Archives and Penrose Collection You get three cracking stories for the price of one, each with a completely new adventure woven with historical facts and details of local countryside. They are stories of secrets, redemption, and most of all friendship. You end up wanting to join the club and share the fun! - Michael and Kitty Ann, conservationists and family founders of Drusillas Zoo