A river journey with egret Elvis (From Salisbury Journal)

A river journey with egret Elvis

12:02pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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ELVIS is an egret and the star of a beautifully illustrated book published by the Living River project for this year's Salisbury International Arts Festival.

Written and illustrated by Salisbury artist, Prudence Maltby, Elvis will take its readers on a journey along the River Avon to discover his world - from the creatures that live in the lush vegetation of the riverbanks, to the weird and wonderful animals from Elvis's ancestral home in Africa.

It is a lovely tale about a sense of place and belonging and Prudence was inspired to write it after spotting an egret by the River Avon at Breamore, three years ago.

"He was a luminous white in a mass of damp, winter grey and his radiance triggered a memory, deeply buried, of flocks of these birds against an African sky," she said.

Prudence lived in Zimbabwe for 35 years, and once back at home that morning, she sat down and wrote all day and Elvis the Egret was born.

Her attempts to get the story published proved futile, mostly because she was told her story was too site specific'. But after reading about the Living River project in last year's festival brochure, Prudence rang Sarah Yarrow, Living River project manager and told her about Elvis.

It must have been serendipity because site specific is exactly what Sarah was looking for.

"When Prue called me I was project planning and looking to do a children's book about the River Avon, it was perfect," said Sarah.

A story-sack has been developed by the project to accompany the book, which includes games, information and activities for teachers and details have been sent to schools in the catchment area.

The Living River is a heritage lottery-funded project that aims to increase awareness and appreciation of the River Avon and its tributaries. Working with communities within the river's catchment area, the project tells the story of the Avon through conservation activities, the arts and themed events.

• Elvis the Egret is being launched at Salisbury Arts Centre on Sunday, May 25 at 5.30pm. Copies of the book will also be on sale at all participating bookshops in the festival.

• Following the success of the award-winning project, Dragonfly in 2007, the third year apprentices at QinetiQ's MOD Boscombe Down site will be working with Downton sculptor Charlotte Moreton once again, to create another landmark sculpture for Solstice Park.

One of Britain's most beautiful native wildflowers, the common mallow, will be created as a sculpture over the coming months.

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