Author: Beth Furlong

Simon McCleave – Author Talk

Author Simon McCleave walking in the countryside
Author Simon McCleave

Wednesday 27th May, 2.30 pm in the library

We are delighted to welcome Simon McCleave, TV scriptwriter and bestselling crime novelist, to give our next talk in the library.

Simon McCleave lives just across the border in North Wales and many of you will be familiar with the areas where his novels are set. Simon’s DI Ruth Hunter thrillers (including The Snowdonia Killings, The Harlech Beach Killings) have sold over three million copies and are firm favourites with crime fans across the UK. His Anglesey novels are another hit series and books like The Dark Tide and Dead in the Water have made Simon the biggest name in Welsh crime writing.

Simon regularly appears at libraries and book festivals across the UK. Before writing novels, Simon was a very successful scriptwriter working on shows like The Bill, Silent Witness, Eastenders and many more.

Simon will talk about his journey to writing crime fiction, including his years working on television drama, and then talk about his bestselling crime series.

There will be the opportunity to purchase signed copies of some of Simon’s books at the end of the talk.

Admission £5 on the door – all proceeds to the library

Strettons Garden Wildlife

Photo of flower and moth

An illustrated talk by Dr Isabel Carter

Chair of the Strettons Area Community Wildlife Group

Wednesday 29th April at 7.30 pm in the library  

The Strettons Area Community Wildlife Group (SACWG) is a friendly group of more than a hundred people who live and/or work locally. They have been active since 2012, helping to record and conserve wildlife in and around the Strettons area.

During the summer of 2025, they carried out a garden wildlife survey in the Strettons. This was repeating a similar survey done by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust in 2005. Their interest was to compare the findings over twenty years.

SACWG combined an online survey with a practical survey of gardens offered by respondents from the online survey. This was carried out during the last weekend in June, following a training evening for volunteers. Participation was excellent and it was a very positive exercise for all involved. Four small teams of surveyors surveyed sixteen gardens and one churchyard, with several people offering to survey their own garden.

Come and find out how SACWG designed and carried out the surveys in gardens which varied in size from a pocket handkerchief to two acres and more importantly, about their findings and what implications they have for all of us.

The survey has also resulted in ongoing work with the primary school this year, which Isabel will share in the talk.

£5 entry on the door – all proceeds to the library