Issue 71 of Keer to Kent was the first to be produced under the editorship of Sheila May.  In her opening editorial, aware that she was inheriting a journal that had grown in both in quantity and quality of content, as well as standard of production under the previous two editors, Barry Ayre and Terry Keefe, Sheila echoed the words of her predecessor by describing the challenge of assuming the mantle of editor as “daunting”.  Sheila went on to edit a total of 24 issues of the journal in her eight year tenure as editor. During that time, she continued to raise the quality of its content, always aiming for a journal that members looked forward to reading, and of which the Trust could be justifiably proud.

Issue 71 was edited with assistance from Barry Ayre, Colin Patrick and Jill Smith. It featured full-length articles on butterfly surveying, wildlife management within the AONB, a walk around the wells of Silverdale and a history of the Arnside Horticultural Society, as well as the usual round-up of reports from partnership organisations within the AONB. Sadly, this edition also contained two obituaries of long-time friends of the AONB and the Trust (Peter Woods and Michael Dearden), plus a death announcement for Harry Bratherton, former proof-reader of Keer to Kent. 

In addition to the full contents listed below, it featured a map of the wells of Silverdale by Richard Daly, and photographs by Ian Henderson, Sheila May, David Mower, Geoff Taylor, and Karen Wright, as well as historical photographs from the Arnside Horticultural Society Archive.  The cover image was by Rob Petley-Jones. Ann Kitchen provided technical advice; the journal was printed by PageFast Ltd, Lancaster