WHILST walking around Coate on a wonderful Sunday morning I thought I should take a picture of Swindon’s most famous tree and share it with your readers.

It’s called The Council Oak, no nothing to do with politics, it’s where Bevis and Mark planned their Council of War in the Richard Jefferies book Bevis: The Story of a Boy.

This book was compulsory reading when I was in school in the 1950s and at one time was the best selling English book in China, yet few in Swindon have even read it.

Jefferies (1848-1887) is Swindon’s best known author and one time writer for the Swindon Advertiser. His museum is open on Sundays, 1.30-5pm, and every second Wednesday, 10.30am-4pm, call 01793 466561 There is a new path to his house from Coate Water just beside the miniature railway line.

I have recently re-read Bevis after 60 years and still you can see Coate Water in almost every page.

Some of it is politically incorrect for today’s readers, boy smacks dog, boy fights with wooden sword, boy makes gun, but as long as you explain this to your children as you read it to them they will get a new perspective of Coate Water next time you take them there.

Try and visualise each place in Coate as you read it and soon you will be a part of the story.

Hope you all enjoy reading this book and learning about Coate in an entirely new way.

ROY CARTWRIGHT Covingham Swindon