Barty Phillips (nee Brereton, OB 1946-1950), former Design Correspondent for The Observer who has written around 30 books on gardening and the home, has launched a blog to keep her focused in lockdown.

Barty’s Garden explores Barty’s passion for gardening through regular posts that focus on everything from winter flowers and Evergreen trees to observations from her garden in the snow, each illustrated with beautiful photographs.

Read Barty’s blog here.

Judith Herrin has kindly gifted a copy of her new book, Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe to Bedales’ Memorial Library, following the book’s publication in August 2020.

A TLS, Spectator and Telegraph Book of the Year, the University of Oxford’s Peter Frankopan describes Ravenna as “an outstanding book that shines a bright light on one of the most important, interesting and under-studied cities in European history. A masterpiece.”

Find out more about Ravenna here.

Simon Anholt‘s new book, The Good Country Equation: How We Can Repair the World in One Generation, was published in September and has now been chosen by #UNGenevaReads – the book club of the United Nations in Geneva – as their Winter Read. Find out more about the book here.

#UNGenevaReads is hosting an online conversation with Simon Anholt to discuss the book and tackle tough questions like ‘Why doesn’t the world work like it should? How can the world work together?’ on 26 February. Find out more about the event here.

Barnaby Phillips’ new book, Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes, is set for publication on 18 March. Loot tells the story of a tragic and relevant chapter in British and African history, the defeat of an ancient kingdom and the story of some of Africa’s greatest works of art.

Gus Casely-Hayford, Director of V&A East and former Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, said: “This timely, thoughtful and beautifully crafted volume deftly guides us through a truly astounding passage of events. These are the kind of histories that change the way that we look at things we thought we knew – whilst shocking us at the things that we simply hadn’t grasped.”

Find out more about Loot here.

Delilah Montagu is celebrating the release of her new EP, This Is Not A Love Song, her first EP since 2019’s Gold.

The EP includes recent singles ‘Us’, ‘Loud’ and ‘Version of Me’, as well as three previously unheard tracks. Listen to the EP on Spotify here.

Jacy Wall (nee Davies, OB 1960-1968), tapestry weaver and printmaker, is represented in an extensive new craft show at Soshiro Gallery in Welbeck Street, London, along with nearly 100 other international makers.

Crafting a Difference runs from 21 January until 2 April 2021, although currently online due to COVID restrictions. A selection of work will also be streamed in the Crafts Council’s annual show, Collect, which also takes place online in February. For more information and to view the show, click here.