Photo: Jo McGrath

Dear Admirers, The Beatrix Potter Welcome back for another issue, and welcome to what may Society be a record number of new readers! Thank you for all the enthusiasm and contributions. Interested in learning more Rather than fill this space with words, here's a late about Beatrix Potter? submission that is worthy of a "stop press" - a photo (above) Consider joining the Society. to warm every heart. The newborn Herdwicks and mum are Meet others who are part of the flock at Yew Tree farm and the moment was passionate about Beatrix Potter, her life and works. captured by artist/farmer Jo McGrath. Between farming at You will also receive the Yew Tree and using part of the barn at Castle Cottage as a quarterly Journal and studio, Jo is understandably thrilled to be following in Newsletter, full of interesting Beatrix's footsteps. Thanks to Jo for permission to use the articles about photo, and to Mandy Marshall for sending it. and the Society's efforts and events.

Society News Find the Membership form for download, and more A final reminder of the Spring Meeting to be held May 20 at information about the the Sloane Club in London, doors open at noon. Andrew Society here. Wiltshire will talk about Leslie Linder, who is the subject of his book (Leslie Linder: Beatrix Potter's Secret Code Breaker), and whom he knew personally. Save the Date:

Please note this announcement which will appear on the September 9-10, 2017: Society's website: "Due to circumstances beyond our control, Autumn Meeting, Lake The Beatrix Potter Society will not be able to respond to District, UK. orders and membership applications until approximately 15 July. Thank you for your interest and your patience". December 2, 2017: Festive Gathering, Sloane Club, London. In Other News:

The Royal Mint has come out with more Beatrix Potter coins; this time Benjamin Bunny, Jeremy Fisher, and Tom Kitten. Their popularity knows no bounds. The day they were Quick Links released, the website was inundated, and this is what interested people saw: "Due to very high volumes of traffic you have Email us at: been placed in a queue. Please do not hit refresh or reload this page, as [email protected] this will only increase your wait. Thank you for your patience. Due to the phenomenal success of our newest coin, we believe we are fully reserved on the silver Read the previous issue of proof coin and as such we have stopped taking orders today. Number of "Pottering About" here. users in queue ahead of you: 64999". The wait was hours long. Webte Sky News has some lovely photos of the new coins with Visit the Society's web page: their corresponding little books. The Beatrix Potter Society

One of Beatrix's Lakeland properties is for sale - at the time of writing, it is under offer. The house is at Coniston, one of a row that was built for the quarrymen who worked nearby. An Stay Connected article in the Westmorland Gazette, gives some of the history of the house.

Pottering About Editor: Janet Sullivan

Photo: Purple Bricks

Susan Flaherty, a Society Member near Milwaukee, WI, found an article in the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel about Melanie Manuel, an entrepreneur who has started a vegan catering company named Beatrix Foods, with the tagline "Rabbit Food, Reinvented". Melanie lived in as a child and enjoyed Beatrix's Tales. For her, they "made the natural world come alive, especially in the form of the main character, Peter Rabbit".

Recently:

The previous edition of "Pottering About" featured Michele Hill's new book, Stitching with Beatrix Potter. Since then, a rather exciting side story has come to light. In a blog on the C&T Publishing website, Michele tells how she became interested in the quilt on Beatrix's bed at Hill Top and wrote to the requesting permission to make a copy of it, and photos to use as a guide. To her surprise, the photos that arrived were not of the quilt that she remembered seeing. Instead, she had photos of the 1863 wedding quilt belonging to Beatrix's parents, rarely seen because it is so fragile. For the full saga, please read the blog, which also has photos of the original quilt and the replica. It is highly likely there will also be more about the quilt in the October Journal and Newsletter. The happy ending finds Michele's completed replica at Hill Top, a gift that will be displayed for visitors to enjoy - perhaps those attending the Autumn Meeting in the Lakes will be able to see it?!

Books:

The 100th Anniversary edition of Appley Dapply's Nursery Rhymes was released in the UK on April 27. The gold edition is available on amazon.uk and wordery.com (possibly elsewhere) - it may be limited to a couple of thousand copies. The 100 limited edition copies were to be exclusively available through the Beatrix Potter Gallery shop (in store or by phone) and it is quite possible they are already sold out.

Updates:

Glyn Gregory reports that the Beatrix Potter letters donated to the Armitt Museum by Hunter Davies are now on permanent display in the Museum as part of the "Image and Reality" exhibit. (Readers may remember the auction of Davies' collection, which took place last September). The letters relate to Beatrix's interest in the Lakeland Sheep Shows. The display also contains Show Schedules from the period which give a mention to Beatrix's entries for the shows.

In the March issue, an update on red squirrels appeared in this space - this time, hedgehogs. Not the first time "Pottering About" has mentioned the plight of Mrs. Tiggy- winkle's family, but this is a happy note on the efforts of one village to be hedgehog-friendly. This BBC clip shows a few of the fifty-two hedgehogs from a sanctuary that were released in Burton Fleming, East Yorkshire. Another BBC clip gives three pointers on how to help the hedgehogs (more endearing footage).

Hedgehogstreet.org has more tips and a map for hedgehog sightings and hedgehog highway locations. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society sells the little signs to mark hedgehog holes in fences - so they aren't mistaken for a hole that needs repairing.

Photo: hedgehogstreet.org

Coming Up:

In France:

On now, until July 24, "Jardins", an exhibit at the Grand Palais, Paris. An exhibition celebrating gardens in art includes images from The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies. It isn't known whether these are illustrations from the book or preliminary drawings and background sketches. If anyone is in Paris, or will be there on holiday, we would welcome more information. With works by Monet, Picasso, Matisse, Klimt and Cézanne in the show, Beatrix is in fine company, and it is surely a visual feast.

In Japan:

Until June 30, a "Peter Rabbit Hotel Carnival" in the Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo in honour of the 150th anniversary of Beatrix's birth. Yes, a little after the fact but never mind, look at the goodies on offer:

Photo: The Japan Times

The Japan Times reports that the "Peter Rabbit Dessert Party," has over thirty desserts created in honour of the characters from the Tales. "Homemade pies baked by Mrs. McGregor," "Tom the Cat Dumplings" and "Appley Dapply Jam Tart". Another of the hotel's restaurants is offering a "Mrs. Tittlemouse Teatime". The full article with details on prices and the hotel's address can be found here. Thank you to Connie Neumann and David Pepper for sending the link.

In the UK:

Somewhat short notice, but for those with children and grandchildren who are aspiring writers, the River & Rowing Museum and Frederick Warne & Co., (Penguin Random House) are coordinating a writing competition. School children are invited to create their very own adventurous tale, unleashing their imagination with 'The Tale of...'. Winners will have their stories turned into a real book, and win prizes for their school! The deadline is 12 May 2017. Find out more and download a competition pack from the River & Rowing Museum website. The River & Rowing Museum (Henley on Thames) will also have an exhibit, "Peter Rabbit: Mischief and Mayhem, open from June 24. Additional activities will include a family trail, and lectures (in July and September), given by experts from the BPS. Watch the Museum website and the next "Pottering About" for more details.

Catalyst Science Discovery Centre, Widnes, Cheshire, has a Beatrix Potter exhibition that was to run until Easter but has now been extended until June. Featured is a print of Beatrix's illustration, "A Dream of Cheese", and interesting information about the Potter family's links to the area. The Runcorn and Wides World has an article about the exhibit.

In the US:

The Linda Lear Center Photo: lindalear.com

June 9 to 11, a final reminder to register for the US Symposium "Beatrix Potter in New London on the Thames" at Connecticut College, New London, Connecticut. This is the first meeting held in the United States in five years. The weekend will include talks, panel discussions, and an exhibit in the Linda Lear Center. A great chance to see old friends and make new ones! Information and the registration form are available here and also on the Society's website. Registrations are still being taken, so please consider joining us - all are welcome, including non-Members!

The happy group seeing to the final arrangements for the Symposium:

Front, Kara Sewall; rear (left to right), Suzanne Terry, Barb Wilson, Lolly Robinson, Kathy Cole, Laura Jackson and Betsy Bray

At the Theatre:

In the UK:

The Old Laundry Theatre, Bowness-on-Windermere,

"Beatrix Potter's Victorian Magic Lantern Show" This theatrical performance documents Beatrix's life from childhood to conservationist and farmer, accompanied by a slide show with scenes and original footage of Victorian London. Tickets include tea and entrance to the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction. Performance dates: May 27, September 13, October 4.

Also at the Old Laundry Theatre, "Where is Peter Rabbit?", the play that delighted those at the 2016 Summer Conference. Performance dates: June 10 to July 3.

Tickets for both shows can be purchased through the Old Laundry Theatre's website.

In the US:

Enchantment Theatre's production, "Peter Rabbit Tales", will be performed: May 6 - New York, NY May 9 - Concord, NH May 16 - New Wilmington, PA May 19 and 20 - Philadelphia, PA

See the Enchantment Theatre website for details on dates and tickets in the other cities mentioned.

For the Crafters:

Making a Peter Rabbit cake topper (15 minutes long):

Tidbits:

Angela Rijks-Bettink found an Oxford Dictionaries blog entry, "Peter Rabbit, Diggory Delvet, and Old Vixen Tod: the language of Beatrix Potter", a fascinating look at the origin of the names of the characters in the little books.

Dudley Chignall (Essex, UK) writes: "I have a butchered Herdwick delivered to me each year here in Essex. Whilst a whole variety of authors and contributors over the years have laboured on Beatrix's love for the Herdwick they have singularly failed to say that it must have been because of their delicious flavour. Sticklebarn in Langdale, the National Trust's one and only tavern is one of the very few locations in Cumbria where Herdwick lamb can be savoured."

Photo: Dudley Chignall

Mandy Marshall has also sent this cheerful springtime photo of a little girl who stopped for tea at Castle Cottage. Poor child hadn't heard of Johnny Townmouse - a gap in knowledge that Mandy is rectifying as the photo was snapped. (The photo was taken by Dayve Ward, who was the photographer for Marta McDowell's book Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life.)

Photo: Dayve Ward

Marta McDowell discovered "The History Cupboard", a blog with several entries about Beatrix Potter, dating from last July. The author of the blog is keeping their identity secret but this appears to be a wonderful effort by someone still in school.

Sue Reynolds found these baby pyjamas in Australia. Easter brought out the bunnies.

In Closing: Thank you for reading, and for all the contributions. Please continue to send news of upcoming events, stories, photos and items of interest on all things Potter-related (in 100 to 150 words). The next issue of "Pottering About" is scheduled for the middle of June. Send submissions by June 11.

Copyright 2017, The Beatrix Potter Society All rights reserved, UK Registered Charity No. 281198

The Beatrix Potter Society, c/o 9 Villiers Court, Helmsley, Yorkshire YO62 5AX United Kingdom

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