CREDITON Bookshop The Bookery is delighted to welcome Jon Woolcott on Thursday, May 7 at 7pm for an evening exploring the mysteries, histories and enduring imaginings of Britain’s chalk landscapes.

In conversation with writer and performer Ysella Sims, Woolcott will introduce his new book, The Tattooed Hills: Journeys to Chalk Figures.

Blending travel writing with cultural history, The Tattooed Hills uncovers the stories behind the striking white horses, giants, crosses and other figures carved into the chalk downs of southern England.

Drawing on folklore, archaeology, art, music and local tradition, Woolcott traces how these distinctive landmarks—some ancient, others surprisingly recent—have shaped local identities, fired imaginations and reflected shifting social values.

From Iron Age hillforts and regimental carvings to the Cerne Abbas Giant, the Westbury White Horse and even the curious “lost panda”, the book reveals a landscape alive with contradictions and unexpected connections. At its heart is a meditation on how meanings are continually written onto the land, and what these chalk figures tell us about belonging, memory and place.

Charles Foster describes Woolcott as “the most splendid company on this intoxicating, immaculately researched tour of chalky weirdness,” praising his sensitivity to the “murmuring voice of Deep England.”

The evening will include readings, conversation, audience Q&A and a book signing.

Jon Woolcott is a Dorset based writer whose work has appeared in The Guardian, The Observer, Slightly Foxed and Caught by the River.

His previous book, Real Dorset, was published in 2023, and he is also editor of Going to Ground. He works with independent publisher Little Toller Books.

The event forms part of The Booker’s vibrant programme of author and community events, proudly supporting the National Year of Reading 2026.

Tickets are £5, available from The Bookery or online at: www.thebookery.org.uk.