A Cornwall-based author is to donate some of the profits from her new children’s book to help secure a brighter future for the Duchy’s special bird.

Children’s author Jani Tully Chaplin will be launching her new book The Holiday – A Chough’s Tale in the heart of Cornwall’s chough country next month.

The book, which has a foreword by Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellowes, tells the story of a young Cornish chough who dreams of helping his father and grandfather operate the steam winding engine at the local tin mine.

Twelve pairs of choughs are potentially breeding in Cornwall this spring, 15 years after three of the birds made a surprise return, after a 30-year absence. Two of those birds bred in 2002, and when their young took to the air Cornish-born choughs were flying once again.

Claire Mucklow, who manages the RSPB’s chough work, said: ’The choughs regularly use the old tin mine shafts as nesting and roosting sites so setting this lovely tale in the heart of the mining area is very poignant. We really appreciate this support from Jani towards chough conservation work in Cornwall.’

The book is to be launched at the cafe at Geevor tin mine, St Just, on May 10, between 11am and 1pm.