A Song for Will

Written in conjunction with The Lost Gardens of Heligan 'A Song For Will' is a book aimed an introducing children to the wonders of the Heligan estate in Cornwall at the outbreak of war and life in a bygone age.At the end of the 19th century Heligan's thousand acres were at their zenith, but only a few years later bramble and ivy were drawing a green veil over the once opulent gardens and estate. The outbreak of WW1 was the start of Heligan's demise as its workforce went off to fight in the trenches; many sadly never to return. After decades of neglect, the devastating hurricane of 1990 should have consigned the then lost gardens to history. Instead, the discovery of a tiny room, buried under fallen masonry in the corner of one of the walled gardens, was to unlock the secret of their demise. A motto etched into the limestone walls in barely legible pencil still reads "Don't come here to sleep or slumber", with the names of those who worked there signed under the date - August 1914.In 2013, the Imperial War Museum recognised Heligan's Thunderbox Room as a 'Living Memorial' to 'The Gardeners of Heligan'. A plaque, a Cornish shovel and a WW1 helmet now mark the spot and details can be found on www.iwm.org.uk.

A touching story, told in letter form, between an errand boy at Heligan Gardens, Cornwall and the resident stone mason who volunteered to fight for his country.When the First World War is declared on 4th August 1914, errand boy, Alfie, is disappointed that he is too young to sign up. But his frustration turns to despair as he begins to understand the brutal reality of battle.During the four year conflict, Alfie's exchange of letters with Heligan stone mason, Fred Paynter, and the visits home of gardener, William Guy, paint a poignant picture of life at the front. Reading them in a peaceful corner of England, the sanctuary of Heligan, Alfie realises just how different his life could have been.Can Fred and Will survive the horrors of the Somme offensive in 1916? And what shocking news might Alfie receive about other battles?Drawing on facts from the historical records of The Lost Gardens of Heligan, 'A Song For Will' is a beautiful story of longing, loss and discovery.