Warwick wildlife author explores the famous Roman Fosse Way in new book

Rick Thompson will be launching his new book, ‘A Year on the Fosse’ at a signing session in the Warwick Visitor Information Centre on September 15 between 12noon and 2pm.

These are the author’s pre-publication copies.

The book goes on general sale on October 1, but it is already available at Warwick Books.

‘A Year on the Fosse’ follows the road from Lincoln to Exeter, telling the history of the towns and cities that grew up along its 230-mile length, and observing the wildlife found in reserves and the different habitats along its route.

Rick Thompson said: “The Romans constructed the pencil-straight road beside a defensive ditch soon after their invasion in 43AD, to secure their conquest of southern Britain.

"Fossa in Latin means ditch.

"It was brilliantly built with a surface of limestone slabs so that troops and supplies could be moved swiftly in all weathers.

"Some of the quarries they excavated were expanded during the following 2,000 years, and in recent times the flooded pits have became nature reserves.

“’A Year on the Fosse’ describes the changing wildlife month by month as the seasons unfurl, from the flatlands of Lincolnshire, through the East Midlands Wolds and the rich agricultural lands of Warwickshire and the Cotswolds, to the sumptuous West Country.

"Great cathedral cities have grown up where the Romans established forts, and the book relates some of the significant moments in England’s history that have played out along the strategic route.

"There are also plenty of surprising stories, myths and folklore.”

“’A Year on the Fosse’ is the latest book by Rick Thompson about the English Midlands, following ‘Park Life - the wildlife of an urban park’, and ‘A River Avon Year’.