Book tells of a farmer's life (From Gazette Series)

Book tells of a farmer's life

A FAMILIAR character in Wotton-under-Edge, John Forster, has self-published a book about the passion in his life - Welsh Cattle.

Under the Hill details Mr Forster's experiences of rearing and breeding cows and their calves while living in Dolgellau, Merioneth, Wales and then in Wotton.

The book's opening chapter is called The Dream and is fanciful, but appealing. It describes one of Mr Forster's dreams, which explores his frustration about Welsh cattle getting confused with Galloway cattle.

Both breeds have a pre-dominance of black cattle but both have other colours too, such as belted, white, red, smoky and line-backed.

Although colours and markings make both breeds look identical, Mr Forster maintains: "To those who keep these beasts, the differences are obvious - the Welsh cattle tend to be heavier and thicker, with larger, friendlier heads: they grow horns whereas their Scottish cousins do not, and the general feeling in Wales is that cattle are more docile and placid, thus making them easier to handle." Mr Forster is certainly an enthusiast.

He also writes about the wider matter of living and farming in the countryside.

He says: "It is one thing too, to visit the countryside as a spectator, for that is as close as many of us ever get to it, and quite another to be part of that countryside.

"To help fashion and shape it, to work with it and for it, and to be an intrinsic part of it, knowing more of its characteristics than any other person..."

Mr Forster's wife Pat, their two sons and farm-dogs Jack and Bryn also appear in the book, and many of the cattle are named too.

The hardships of farming are described, including a chapter on the recent foot and mouth outbreak; and underlying the book is the writer's irritation with the changing world, which he feels is threatening farming and the countryside.

Under the Hill is available from the Cotswold Book Room, Wotton, the Thornbury Bookshop and by writing to John Forster at Wotton-under-Edge, GL12 7LY.