‘Wizz and Fizz’ are a series of children’s books inspired by my volunteer work at a beautiful ‘no-dig’ market garden in the South of England and my love of nature.
I began volunteering when my internal ‘call to action’, like it has for so many of us, went from a small nudge to a giant roar, urging me to do my ‘bit’ to help protect the environment and look at ways to live more sustainably on the Earth.
One sunny spring day, I sat gently planting seedlings on the farm, surrounded by healthy colourful vegetables and enjoying the gentle hum and buzz of insects around me. As I marvelled at the life and vibrancy of this once dry and previously intensively farmed land, a little flicker of an idea crossed my mind!
Kate and Mollie are two passionate girls who had an amazing vision to create a diverse habitat for wildlife, produce healthy chemical-free food and regenerate the soil. With a growing community of volunteers, a lot of hard work and so much love, this vision came to life……and so too did the little mushroom Wizz and all his vegetable, fruit, herb and flower friends at Dilly-Dally Farm!
I thought it would be wonderful to start a ‘storytime’ at the farm so children could be surrounded by nature, plant seeds and harvest vegetables while learning about fresh nutrient-rich food and soil health. I just needed some books to read!
As the characters and story lines continued to pop and crackle in my head, my mind took me to a cool ancient woodland with forest animals and a wise intuitive mushroom. This led to Wizz’s very good friend, Fizz, who lives in Dilly-Dally Woods next to the farm. And with amazing encouragement and creativity from the team at Happy Designer, my ‘Wizz and Fizz’ books were born.
I hope little ones will fall in love with my friendly and fun characters who will gently help teach them about growing their own healthy vegetables and the importance of looking after the land. Soil health is key to healthy organic food full of nutrients and vitality so principles of a ‘no-dig’ approach to gardening are touched on in a fun way, together with an introduction to a wide variety of colourful seasonal fruits and vegetables we can grow, eat and enjoy.
‘Wizz and Fizz’ are a series of books to connect children and adults to the wonders and beauty of nature. I hope they will encourage people of all ages to enjoy the natural world for continued health and happiness and inspire us all to look after our planet and wildlife for years to come.
My greatest wish for my books and characters is that they are shared and enjoyed by family and friends, creating cherished memories of cosy storytimes, imaginary worlds, and outdoor adventures.
‘If children don’t grow up knowing about nature and appreciating it, they will not understand it. And if they don’t understand it, they won’t protect it. And if they don’t protect it, who will?’
David Attenborough, 2015, ‘Conserving Wonder’
