Author and NWT trustee Ian Jackson with Helen Slater, Manager, Forum Books, Corbridge, Image by Forum Books.
Rock book a major sell-out!
Who would have thought that a book about 50 rocks would sell out?
At the end of 2021, Northumberland Wildlife Trust printed 2,000 copies of a book titled Northumberland Rocks to celebrate its 50th Anniversary and such has been the demand that, ten months later, 2,000 more have had to be re-printed.
Designed and written by Northumberland Wildlife Trust trustee and geologist Ian Jackson, this is not a typical geology book.
Northumberland Rocks tells the amazing story of Northumberland’s geological history from 425 million years ago right up to today and explains how and why its rocks are the reason for the region’s outstanding scenery and landscape. It opens a window into the Northumberland beneath everybody’s feet and reveals the origins of its landscape and its habitats. It encourages people to look at their landscape with fresh eyes and inspire them to go explore the region.
The 50 rock sites described are diverse and range from Berwick-upon-Tweed in the north to Allenheads in the south and from Haltwhistle in the west to Tynemouth in the east. The book even includes the urban geology of central Newcastle.
Helen Stanton, owner of Forum Books in Corbridge, The Accidental Bookshop in Alnwick and The Bound Bookshop in Whitley Bay says:
“Northumberland Rocks took us completely by surprise as within just a few weeks it became our number one best seller. What a beautiful, engaging book with rocky tales and gorgeous full colour photographs that really show off Northumberland’s diverse landscape.
“It’s a great source for ideas for walks that are fun but will inform and take you to parts of the county you may not know were there. And once customers have discovered the book, they’re coming back to buy it again as a gift.”
Allison Cuthbertson, Northumberland National Park’s Visitor Centre, The Sill Manager says:
“We haven’t been able to keep pace with sales. It fulfilled a real need for something that explains the landscape of the county in straightforward language – something between the complete detail of academic books and guide books.”
It’s not just locals who are buying the book. Visitors from the USA and Asia have purchased copies as a vivid keepsake of Northumberland’s stunning scenery. International fashion press from magazines including Forbes, Elle, Vogue and Grazia experiencing the landscapes of Northumberland with Barbour, departed the Region with copies in their luggage.
Ian Jackson, the author of Northumberland Rocks says:
“I couldn’t be happier. From childhood I was always curious about the countryside around me, why is that hill there, what is that stone made of; so my choice of career was never a surprise. After more than 40 years working as a professional geologist, I wanted to use that experience to help others understand why our landscape is like it is. So I thought I’d see if I could write a book that was both attractive and accessible to everyone with that same curiosity about the land around them. That people have really enjoyed the book and engaged with their rocky past is just brilliant.”
Priced at £12.00, the book, published by Northern Heritage is available from www.northern-heritage.co.uk or www.nwt.org.uk/shop and Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre and Northumberlandia Visitor Centre, Amazon and bookshops throughout the region.
All money raised will be donated to Northumberland Wildlife Trust.