Born in 1949, I grew up in the countryside of southern England, spending my childhood playing happily in the woods and fields. During my student days I learned about biology and ecology, giving structure to my intuitive understanding and love of nature.

Since then I have worked, whenever possible, out of doors, working with trees as an arborist, and with wood as a carpenter and sculptor. I could not fail to notice, over the intervening years, the gradual loss of natural diversity in the landscape, and this has caused me great concern.

Looking for a way to contribute to the debate on conservation, Mowzl's arrival has inspired the writing of this novel for children.