Pretty record of town (From Stroud News and Journal)

Pretty record of town

NOW in its second year and showing no sign of running out of steam, the Stroud and the Valleys calendar is packed full of lovely local pictures.

The town and surrounding countryside really lend themselves to photography and this calendar has got some wonderful shots.

The Stroud & The Valleys Calendar 2002 proves the point - it is enough to make ex-Stroudies homesick and inspire many a country walk.

Whether it is January's picture of the Four Clocks decked out in Christmas lights, a beautifully-lit shot of St Cyr's Church and the canal at Stonehouse in February or the lush, verdant green of Slad Valley in August the calendar captures some pretty moments from throughout the year.

It also has dates of big events throughout the district including the Ebley Fireworks, Stroud Valleys Visual Arts Festival, Frocester Beer Festival and regular farmers' markets and decorators fayres so people can plan ahead.

Illustrations of a wild flower or tree that people can expect to see in Stroud in each particular month is a nice touch too - we get cowslips in April, Bluebells in May and come December it is holly laden with red berries.

The calendar would make an ideal gift but on the downside the reproduction of the pictures is not perfect.

Last year when reviewing the 2002 version I rather mean-spiritedly pointed out the picture reproduction is not prefect quality and on close-up inspection it is clearly a digital camera job.

But a year on I can reassure readers that when hung on a wall just a couple of feet from my desk you really cannot tell they are anything but perfect.

The Stroud & The Valleys Calendar is a bargain at £6.99 and is available direct from the publishers, Slad Valley press, on 01453 756909.