AUTHOR Bill Bryson was in Selborne recently to open an art exhibition in the garden of Gilbert White’s House Museum inspired by the work of the naturalist himself.

Gilbert White’s House is among heritage sites across Hampshire that this year will be celebrating the lives of three of the county’s most influential writers, with a series of art exhibitions under the banner ‘Inspired by the Word’ – a collection of pieces of art by British artists, inspired by Gilbert White, Jane Austen and Edward Thomas.

The hope is that visitors will in turn by inspired and encouraged to visit other sites to discover more about the literary heritage in the heart of Hampshire.

Attended by supporters of the museum, the opening of the Gilbert White exhibition began with an address by chairman of trustees Dr Rosemary Irwin, who felt that Gilbert White, who strove to create a garden full of curiosities and sculptures, would have heartily approved of the exhibition.

Dr Irwin then reflected on Bill Bryson’s extraordinary writing career and the similarities between him and Gilbert White, of whom Bryson writes about in his book The Road to Little Dribbling, where he describes Gilbert White’s House as an “improbable but surprisingly splendid package”.

Ronnie Davidson-Houston, as his alter-ego Gilbert White, continued with a few comical words about the naturalist before introducing Mr Bryson, who commented on how much he enjoyed living in East Hampshire, and how impressed he was at the care the British take over preserving their history and making it relevant.

Gilbert White and The Oates Collection and the Inspired By The Word Exhibition were, he said, a great example of this. Mr Bryson reflected that he looked forward to returning to the museum to have another look at the sculptures.

“It’s wonderful stuff, it absolutely enhances the gardens perfectly, and vice versa,” he said.

Other venues due to open later in the year include Winchester Cathedral, Chawton House Library and The Red House, Christchurch, who will be marking Jane Austen’s 200th anniversary, while Petersfield Museum and Petersfield Physic Garden will feature a number of pieces inspired by poet Edward Thomas who died 100 years ago this year.

But it is Gilbert White’s garden that is playing host to the largest collection of work, with 18 sculptures inspired by the life and work of the great naturalist, whose Natural History of Selborne is reported to be the fourth most published book in the English language.

The exhibition has been made possible thanks to “a great partnership” between the venues and The Garden Gallery at Stockbridge, which exhibits and sells contemporary sculpture, ceramics, glass and furniture for gardens and interiors. Artists include Geoff Aldred, Danny Clahane, Chris Elsey, Mark Evans, Ayako Furuno, Alyosha Moeran, Jason Mulligan MRBS, Tom Sargeant, Tracey Sheppard, Helen Mary Skelton, Will Spankie, Roger Stephens, and Richard Watts.

The exhibition runs until September 30.