Abbey and Eddie Visit Bugingham Palace
An Eco Picturebook
for Children
When Abbey and her brother Eddie explore the gardens near St Edmundsbury Cathedral, they stumble upon an eco-garden and a bustling bug hotel! Fascinated by the tiny guests and the big role they play in nature, Abbey and Eddie learn how insects help keep the environment healthy. With beautiful illustrations, a fun colouring page, and easy instructions from The SAW Trust, this engaging story encourages children to care for the natural world around them.
“I’m Francis,” he said. “Our planet is losing lots of bugs and lots of animals. We must do more to look after them.”
Abbey and Eddie turned to each other. “What can we do?” they both asked.
“Become an Eco-Warrior!” replied Francis. “Make your own bug hotel at home. Or ask your friends to make one in their gardens.”
“You could even ask your teacher if your class could make one at school,” said Rose.
Rev’d Dr Karen Smith is a Priest based in Suffolk’s beautiful Stour Valley. Cambridge educated (Emmanuel College), she enjoyed a long and successful career in academia mainly at Cambridge and University College London prior to studying theology at Westcott House, Cambridge. She is passionate about inspiring children to learn more about the environment and to care for our natural world.
Meet The Author
Schools Outreach Programme
If your school would like the author of ‘Abbey and Eddie visit Bugingham Palace’ to visit and read the story to your class or an assembly, help you make a bug hotel in the grounds or lead a painting/drawing session contact me below.
Thank-you to The Belstead Ganzoni Charitable Settlement for their very generous donation of books that will enable the Schools Outreach Programme and to Jane Sheat, Diocesan Director of Education for assisting with introductions to schools.
Touring Art & Writing Exhibition
If you would like an exhibition of pictures and text drawn from the book to be displayed in your library or church, contact me. I will arrange a suitable delivery and collection date with you.
Supporters
Thank-you to the Science, Art and Writing Trust (SAW Trust) for designing the Bug Hotel worksheet for the book. The Trust is a science education charity founded in 2005 from the John Innes Centre, an international centre of excellence in plant science, genetics and microbiology. The Trust aims to bring science into everyday lives and develop new ways of stimulating creativity, exploration and learning.
Thank-you to home improvement retailer Wickes for providing a generous range of Bug Hotel Materials for the Schools Outreach Programme through its Community Programme and to Sturmer Garden Centre for providing boxes, bark, pots and other materials.
Harley Dunkley is a talented young illustrator who is based in Suffolk. She is a graduate in interior architecture from Nottingham Trent University and is currently undertaking her Masters in illustration at Falmouth University.
Her wonderful illustrations have really brought this book to life.
Meet the Illustrator
“Ask the animals and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you; ask the plants of the earth… in his hand is the life of every living thing.”
Job 12: 7-10
You can visit the Cathedral and Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds and you can even take a tour of the Tower!
“Karen has written a book that gives young children an awareness of creation care in a fun and captivating way and encourages them to make a difference. The Yard is a safe space where young people can come and spend time, make new friends and have fun whilst doing their bit for the planet. Come and visit!”
Very Revd Joe Hawes
Dean of St Edmundsbury Cathedral
The beautiful St Edmundsbury Catherdral and Abbey Gardens can be found on Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1LS.
You can find infomation about The Abbey of St Edmund, Reborn using this link The Abbey of St Edmund Heritage Partnership . It has a very substantial environmental component, of which this initiative is a small part.
You can also enjoy a carton of juice, a cup of tea or a slice of cake in Pilgrims Kitchen Cafe and sit on the picnic benches on the Garth, just like Abbey and Eddie and their mum and dad. You might even be able to take a peek inside the Yard!
Cathedral and Tower Tours can be arranged by contacting visits@stedscathedral.org
The Cathedral Shop is based beside the main entrance to the Cathedral. It stocks a wide range of gifts, greetings cards, books (including Abbey and Eddie visit Bugingham Palace) and Fairtrade items, together with a comprehensive religious selection suitable for adults and children. The Shop also incorporates a Tourist Information Point, which is open daily. Pop in for information about things to see and do in the town and surrounding area!
There is parking on Angel Hill opposite the Cathedral and Gardens and also at Ram Meadow Car Park, Cotton Lane, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1XP.