An award-winning author and travel writer is working on a new wildlife book about west Dorset - and needs help to get it over the finish line.

‘Wild About Dorset’ is a collection of essays from Brian Jackman about the countryside and wildlife on the county’s doorstep.

He describes it as a 'love letter' to this part of the world.

The writings are from his monthly ‘Wild About Dorset’ countryside column, which has been a regular feature in the Eggardon and Colmers View Parish Magazine for the past ten years.

Mr Jackman, a long-time champion of eco-tourism, and affectionately known locally as the 'Leopard Man of West Milton' after the big cat model in his garden, said Bradt Guides were hoping to publish the book in the autumn but due to the financial constraints imposed by the Covid lockdown, this can only be achieved with the help of a Crowdfunder campaign.

Once the amount needed to publish the book has been raised through Crowdfunding, any additional donations will be divided between the Dorset Wildlife Trust and the Eggardon and Colmers Benefice, Mr Jackman says.

Mr Jackman said of the book: “It’s a love letter written about this part of the world, compiled from what I have been writing about for the last 40 years, with most observations from a few miles of home.

“I’ve always wanted to live in the west country - It’s the only place I could be truly happy.”

The 87-year-old, voted Travel Writer of the Year in 1982 during his 20 years at the Sunday Times, recalled an experience of listening to the otters in the stream at the end of his garden, amongst some of the fantastic wildlife that the area has to offer.

The book will have a cover specially designed by acclaimed Dorset landscape artist Liz Somerville, with colour illustrations by Carry Akroyd, one of Britain’s foremost wildlife artists.

Mr Jackman has had an extensive career which has allowed him to travel all over the world as a nature and travel writer, including to Africa which he noted as one of his highlights.

He has been writing about the world’s wild places since the 1970s, previously releasing a handful of books, including; ‘Wild About Britain,’ all about Britain’s unspoiled coast and countryside, focusing on Britain’s wildlife and ‘Savannah Diaries,’ featuring stories about sub-Saharan Africa and wildlife, conservation, history, national parks and reserves.

He has his very own life-size leopard in a walnut tree at the end of his garden, handmade by his neighbour from chicken wire and an old shower curtain after she heard him 'pining for Africa'.

Mr Jackman is determined to get the book published this autumn and has set up a fundraising campaign.

To donate, visit: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/wild-about-dorset-1