St Illtud’s Church, Llantwit Major, with thanks to Kath at Bardic Books
Apr
24

St Illtud’s Church, Llantwit Major, with thanks to Kath at Bardic Books

  • St Illtud's Church Church Lane Llantwit Major CF61 1SH (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

A joyous celebration of Britain’s rich bird life.

In Birdland, journalist and lifelong birdwatcher Jon Gower explores our intimate connection with the bird life around us. From the symphonic song of the wren to the clack of a puffin’s beak and from epic migrations to sunset murmurations, birds are commonplace miracles. No wonder they have inspired our artists, writers and songwriters. Whether rare or abundant, Jon Gower visits some of the best places in Britain to watch birds, searching for some species he has always wanted to see such as wryneck, dotterel and barred warbler.

But all is not well in Birdland. Gower charts the many changes to Britain’s bird life over the last 50 years, as the countryside has seemingly emptied and in many ways fallen silent. He considers the effects of the climate emergency, the decline in biodiversity and warming oceans on birdlife and looks at work being done to mitigate these developments. But above all it is a celebration of birds and their being, and a call to arms to defend them. As Great Bustards return to our plains and eagles to our mountains, Jon Gower’s book examines the future from a bird’s-eye view.

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Drill Hall, Chepstow, Cas-Gwent
Apr
29

Drill Hall, Chepstow, Cas-Gwent

  • Lower Church Street Chepstow, Wales, NP16 5HJ United Kingdom (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Thanks to Matt at Chepstow Books for inviting me back once again.

Tickets are £ 3, refundable should you buy a book (not many shopping days left before Christmas!)

https://chepstowbooks.co.uk/products/jon-gower-birdland?srsltid=AfmBOorjQq1vZ7qMZk_96ia2fU6TBLDGMwmVvp7GKx3FPXrZA0eAdNdl

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Hay Festival
May
22

Hay Festival

Jon Gower and Adam Nicolson in conversation with Anni Llŷn

For the Love of Birds

Thursday 22 May 2025, 4pm –  Wye Stage

Two bird enthusiasts take us under their wing in this celebration of our feathered friends and our relationship with them.

Broadcaster, author and lifelong birder Jon Gower (Birdland) reminds us that birds are commonplace miracles that have inspired artists for centuries, from the symphonic song of the wren and the clack of a puffin’s beak to epic migrations and sunset murmurations. History and nature writer Adam Nicolson (Bird School) recently decided to redress his ignorance of bird life, observing nightingales, cuckoos, turtle doves, pheasants, robins and owls; where they nest, how they sing, how they mate and fight, what preys on them, what they are like as living things.

Our birds face climate threat and decline in biodiversity, and their call has in many ways fallen silent. Join Gower and Nicolson in conversation with presenter, actress and author Anni Llŷn, to find out more about the inhabitants of our skies and what can be done to restore their soundtrack.

Price: £15.00

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Hay Festival
May
28

Hay Festival

Raymond Chester and Jon Gower

Sports Day: Raider – The Raymond Chester Story

Wednesday 28 May 2025, 2.30pm –  Wye Stage

Dive into the thrilling life of Raymond Chester, the Oakland Raiders legend. During the 1960s, while America was convulsed following the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King, Chester was making historic changes that brought Black American football into the mainstream. From his college glory at Morgan State to his iconic moments on the NFL field, Chester’s story is one of resilience and triumph which resonates far beyond the world of sport and proves the significance of sport in our social and political lives.

Welsh author and rugby fan Jon Gower’s Raider is based on extensive conversations and interviews with Chester himself – a love-letter from Wales to an American football icon whose legacy transcends the game.

Price: £15.00

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Monty Lit Fest
Jun
8

Monty Lit Fest

Delighted to be making the annual trip to Montgomery for the fab, friendly festival.

This time to chat about ‘Birdland’ with Adam Bedford and then discuss Matthew Yeomans’ latest, ‘Seascapes: Notes for a Changing Coastline.’

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