Eric Barton, a village boy for all of his life, was born in Nayland, Suffolk and remained by the picturesque River Stour for 30 years. After marrying, he and his wife June moved over the county border into the beautiful village of Great Horkesley in Essex. Inspired by his life's surroundings, Eric spent many evenings telling interesting and friendly countryside wildlife stories to his two sons and more recently his seven grandchildren. This was always a great way to relax them and encourage those tired eyes to shut.

With the arrival of Isla Daisy King, the author's first great grandchild, it was time to put those imaginative wildlife stories into print.