Telling the Seasons

Telling the Seasons takes us on a journey through the twelve months of the year with stories, customs and celebrations. Drawing on the changing patterns of nature and the rich tapestry of folklore from the British Isles, it is a colourful guide into how and why we continue to celebrate the seasons. Here are magical myths of the sun and moon, earthy tales of walking stones and talking trees and lively legends of the spirits of each season. Original drawings, sayings, songs, recipes and rhymes, combine into a 'spell-book' of the seasons. Martin Maudsley tells tales around the year to children and adults, specialising in stories of the natural world and local landscapes. He can be found leading seasonal celebrations from firelit winter wassails to bright May Day mornings in rural Dorset where he lives.

MARTIN MAUDSLEY is a storyteller who has worked with the BBC, Bristol Festival of Nature, Bristol, Paignton and Chester Zoos, Cheltenham Festival of Science, the Eden Project, English Heritage, Henley Regatta, the Environment Agency, the National Trust, River Cottage HQ, the Soil Association, and several Wildlife Trusts. Martin established the Bristol Storytelling Festival and was its Artistic Director for a 7 years, and also co-founded 'Folk Tales' - a long-running storytelling night in Bristol. He is storyteller-in-residence for the environmental arts charity Common Ground and in this capacity was recently featured on Radio 6music in October for Apple Day. He lives in Bridport, Dorset.