In search of Peter Rabbit, Mrs. Tiggy Winkle and Squirrel Nutkin

In the latest of her literary rambles around these islands Lorna Hogg goes on the trail of Beatrix Potter

Beatrix wrote two or three books a year – her total output was 30 books, including 23 books for children. A shrewd businesswoman, she patented the character of Peter Rabbit

Peter Rabbit, was originally created to entertain Beatrix Potter’s former governess’s five year old son but she eventually published the antics of the rabbit in a book for children. It was a huge success and has never been out of print. Netflix are the latest media company to launch an animated version

For over a century, her stories have delighted children - and she is one of the few long established Victorian authors to have escaped accusations of political incorrectness. Parents are happy to see their children enjoying tales of the naughtiness of Squirrel Nutkin and the exploits of Mrs Tiggy Winkle. Beatrix Potter remains one of the best known - and read -- authors of children’s books and famous characters. However, what are less well known are her contributions to conservation, and how she helped to preserve the enjoyment of local countryside, to be now enjoyed by all of us.

Beatrix was born on 28th July 1866 to parents from backgrounds of self-made wealth. She and her brother Bertram enjoyed comfortable childhoods at the family home in London. Their parents were interested in the arts, and encouraged both of their children to learn, and try new experiences. As was then the norm, Beatrix was educated at home by a governess and had her own small group of friends. She was also, however, taken out to enjoy all London had to offer – in galleries, exhibitions, museums. From an early age, she enjoyed drawing, and increasingly, sketching. Like most children of that era, she enjoyed folklore, and tales of magical beings – the Aesop Fables and works by the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen and Charles Kingsley were favourites. She tried her hand at printing – her parents encouraged new skills, and in true Victorian fashion, she also kept scrapbooks.

Above all, however, Beatrix loved the open spaces. The family travelled within the United Kingdom, and she often visited her grandparents in Perthshire. As a child, she often appeared bright and precocious, but was also reserved and frequently sickly. However, she blossomed, physically and emotionally in the countryside. Her real inspiration came aged sixteen, when she visited the beautiful, but then wild and undisturbed Lake District in Cumbria in the north

Beatrix Potter bought Hill Top, seventeenth century farmhouse in Sawrey in the Lake District, in 1905. It is now a museum.

west of England, on a family holiday. In the countryside, Beatrix had freedom – to explore, slide down fells, and even get lost.

At home, she and her brother were also encouraged to have pets and look after their menagerie of rabbits, lizards, mice, bats and hedgehogs! As she grew older, her interest in the natural world increased. She started to study a range of scientific subjects, including mycology - the study of fungi. She wrote a paper on the subject, but as a woman, could not present it at the well-regarded Lennox Society in London, as women were not allowed to join as members.

When it came to her own writing, despite her comfortable background, Beatrix was unusually modern in that she was very keen to earn her own money. Back in the 1880s, she had designed and printed Christmas cards, and sold them. This success fostered a new ambition. She became quietly determined to publish and illustrate, her own stories, and in fact, self-published a picture story book of Peter Rabbit.

Peter Rabbit was originally created to entertain her former governess’s five year old son, then ill with scarlet fever. Beatrix often designed sketches and made up stories for the children of friends. He was given added appeal through her painstaking examination and careful noting of the physical characteristics of animals. This helped to create lifelike drawings. However, her efforts were initially rejected by publisher Frederick Warne. Fortunately, he was persuaded to change his mind – possibly after another designer recommended Beatrix’s artwork, and the ‘bunny book’ became an immediate success. Her skills with delicate watercolour illustration played a vital part in creating a world where squirrels had tails for sails, and kittens climbed up chimneys. The beautiful Lake District setting, gave life to such creations as Mrs. Tiggy Winkle and Squirrel Nutkin, and a new world of children’s fiction had arrived.

Beatrix wrote two or three books a year – her total output was 30 books, including 23 books for children. A shrewd businesswoman, she patented the character of Peter Rabbit, which opened up the spin-off possibilities of merchandising. In 1905, she became engaged to Norman Wade, the son of her publisher, who had encouraged her. However, he was from a different social background, and again, the match was not seen as suitable by her parents. By now, Beatrix had the money, from a bequest and her earnings, to take a highly unconventional step for a women of her time – to buy a house on her own, in1905. It was a seventeenth century farmhouse, called `Hill Top,’ near Sawrey, in the Lake District. Whilst not intended as her permanent home, her times there were productive.

The Lake District, Cumbria is one of the most spectacularly beautiful areas in England, thanks in no small way to Beatrix Potter. She left much of her land to the National Trust, and is credited with providing much of the land which today forms the Lake District National Park.

37. Beatrix started to spend more time in the Cumbrian fells. Her farmyard became Jemima Puddle duck’s back yard, and several characters, including Samuel Whiskers, would be created here.

Beatrix could not have known it at the time, but an entirely new phase of her life was about to begin. She became close to local solicitor William Heelis, whom she met professionally during her purchase of Hill Top. Now aged 47, she took this new opportunity of happiness and the couple married in October 1913. Beatrix moved to the Lake District permanently, and swiftly took a full interest in her surroundings. She became a serious land purchaser and farmer, as she became aware of the vulnerability of the area to unshackled development. She also became interested in the newly formed National Trust and used her name to encourage people to join or donate.

One of her main concerns was that people would lose access to some of the most beautiful spots in the country, and she helped in any way she could. The right to roam was given on her land – scouts and guides could camp there. She joined local societies, such as the Landowners Community Association, and was a lifelong member of the Commons, Open Space and Footpaths Preservation Society. She also assured the future of the native Herdwick breed of sheep and was a prize winning breeder. Her attitude was decades ahead of its time – and would set a trend and provoke debate on publicly held land.

However, she also continued to work, writing and illustrating her stories, until her failing eyesight made it difficult. Beatrix died on 22nd December 1943, of pneumonia and heart disease. She left much of her land to the National Trust and is credited with providing the land which today forms the Lake District National Park. Her twenty-three children’s books have also survived, for over a century, in film, ballet and song. She also has an unusual accolade, of which she would most certainly be proud – how many authors have their own asteroid named for them?

Specsavers Ireland Provides Life Changing Aid To Kolkata Communities In Partnership With The Hope Foundation

As part of its commitment to change lives through better sight, Specsavers is continuing to work tirelessly with The Hope Foundation to help provide vital eyecare to disadvantaged people in India.

The Hope Foundation is a registered Irish charity working with street and slum children in Kolkata. The charity works to improve their lives by providing access to healthcare and nutrition, education, protection, drug rehabilitation, life skills and training as well as emergency response. With the help of Specsavers, The Hope Foundation established a Blindness Eradication Programme in Kolkata bringing improved eyecare to families living in street and slum communities.

Specsavers’ relationship with HOPE started in 2017 when store partner, Lisa Walsh, travelled to Kolkata with three Specsavers colleagues to support The Hope Foundation’s eye clinic. Through this mission, Lisa witnessed first-hand how many people were suffering from lack of access to basic eye care. Thousands of people were suffering from easily treatable eye conditions, with many simply needing glasses to vastly improve their daily quality of life.

On her return, Lisa spoke to stores about the work she did, and the group voted to nominate HOPE as a charity partner. Specsavers have also helped to part-fund the running of the eye clinic, and partners have fundraised to purchase much needed optical equipment for HOPE Hospital.

Since then, each year roughly 10 Specsavers colleagues visit Kolkata to carry out an intense, week-long eye clinic that sees them visit the street and slum communities in Kolkata. Lisa comments: ‘In Ireland, we have access to excellent eye care but many people in Kolkata are not as lucky, making it vital that we do all we can to improve their eye health services. The eye tests in India will enable the team to provide glasses, giving children and adults better vision. The gift of sight could significantly change many of these people’s lives.’

In 2020, Specsavers further showed their commitment to HOPE and the eye clinic by agreeing to cover the education and living costs for students undertaking a two-year Optometry Diploma course.

With the help of Specsavers, The Hope Foundation has since conducted over 161 free eye check-up camps treating over 27,100 people, dispensed over 15,507 pairs of glasses, provided over 9,910 free medicines to patients, performed almost 1,345 eye surgeries in HOPE Hospital and treated 7,552 patients through 430 eye clinics at HOPE Hospital.

Specsavers give €45,000 annually to cover the cost of running HOPE Hospital’s eyecare clinic in Kolkata. This is in addition to the funding for the optometry students.

‘HOPE tirelessly work to combat the dire living conditions in the poverty-stricken city of Kolkata and bring much needed eyecare to those in need. We at Specsavers are committed to continuing in our mission to raise vital funds and fund the HOPE Hospital Eye Clinic and support these students.’ continues Lisa.

To find out more information about Specsavers partnership with The Hope Foundation, visit www.specsavers.ie or to make a donation to The Hope Foundation please visit https://www.hopefoundation.ie/donate/.

Life-Changing Dental Treatment for Those with Missing or Badly Damaged Teeth

Before

All on 4 is a permanent replacement for damaged or missing teeth or dentures. The treatment is also known as smile in a day or teeth in a day. The procedure permanently replaces an entire arch of teeth with a highly- aesthetic dental bridge secured to dental implants. Allon-4 is the most natural replacement for a complete set of teeth.

Many people are suffering from uncomfortable, ill-fitting dentures. Others are living with missing, broken, decayed or otherwise damaged teeth. These conditions can cause difficulty when laughing, eating and even smiling. Missing teeth can profoundly affect a person's confidence and make them self-conscious when speaking, smiling in photographs or sharing a meal. They can find themselves in embarrassing social situations and having difficulty when eating.

The Smile-in-a-day procedure can restore the function of the teeth and greatly enhance their appearance. With a smile-in-a-day treatment, the result is a full set of teeth that look, function and feel like natural teeth.

The new teeth will have a completely natural appearance. You will be able to smile naturally in photographs. You can eat confidently and laugh without worry, which will help you regain self-esteem. This treatment is available from 3Dental in Dublin, Limerick and Galway. At 3Dental, consultations are free. After an examination, your dentist will present treatment options and advise you on what they think is the best course of action. They will also tell you about the available payment plans.

On your treatment day, they remove non-viable teeth and place 4-6 dental implants. Then, in one of 3Dental's private recovery rooms, you will wait comfortably while the dental laboratory prepares your teeth. When your new smile is ready, a restorative dentist will secure your teeth to your implants, and you will go home with a new set of teeth. All in one day!

3Dental uses the latest, state-of-theart imaging, design and fabrication technology. Having the laboratory onsite reduces production times and allows for better communication between the implant dentist and the laboratory technicians, so the patient gets the best result. The cost of Smile-in-a-day in 3Dental is €9,999. Smile in a day is tax-deductible so you will get back 20% of this cost.

After

At 3Dental, the treatment includes, as required: A free consultation. Treatment plan. Four dental implants. A temporary bridge. Extractions. Bone contouring. A Prettau zirconia bridge.

If you are interested, you can find out more or get in touch with 3Dental on their website, 3Dental.ie where you will find testimonials from previous patients, before and after pictures, patient reviews, dentist biographies and more information about the treatment.

Contact info

3Dental Dublin

The Red Cow Complex,Naas Rd, D22 KV24 (01) 485 1033

3Dental Limerick

Old Quarter House, Little Ellen St, V94 D72V (061) 414 673

3Dental Galway

28, Briarhill Business Park, Galway, H91 C9DR (091) 351 033