AUTHOR and farmer John Carter has just published his fourth book – A Country Collection.

The collection centres round stories and poems he has written over the years with contributions from other local country people. There are also pictures, sketches, even recipes.

Mr Carter, Blackdown, said: “This latest book has a seasonal thread and highlights the spirit of farming, nature and the land in all weathers. It is essentially a mixture of different human experiences to browse through at your leisure, designed to stop you falling asleep or to help you do that.

“The observations and writings are from my life and work while making a living from farming the land, working with livestock and enjoying the beauty of the challenging countryside in all seasons, with country people.”

Mr Carter's first book Both in it Together was the story of encounters between a farmer and a fox. Then came Journey into Farming – his and wife Dawn's story as penniless farm workers in the fifties.

Mr Carter was a pioneer of the outside pig system, a shepherd, arable farmer, and was a country magistrate for 30 years.

He was a pioneer of farmers selling direct to the public and farmers' markets, notably Bridport and Poundbury from their inception, and worked for village life including the setting up of one of the first community shops.

Then he retold Tom Staple's story – a Dorset farmer's son who became a butcher.

Born in 1882, the tale, told in Tom's own words spans 90 years. He was one of ten children born on the family farm near Lambert's Castle.

A Country Collection at £9.50, is in The Bridport Bookshop and other bookshops or from john carterfarmingauthor.co.uk plus postage £1.50 or John Carter on 01404861353.