He says in the liner notes that back in 2006 he wrote down some ideas for a series of narrative tales about the members of a single family that stretched back to the 1600's and extended into the near future where the world is struggling with ecological disaster. That was the basis for the 2006 release Anser's Tree. This new release Manning's 12th studio recording entitled Margaret's Children carries on those stories picking up where the previous CD left off. As always Manning handles the bulk of the musicianship (acoustic & electric guitars, drums, keyboards, bass, bouzouki, mandolin, percussion, lead and backing vocals) but surrounds himself with an eclectic cast of players including: Chris Catling (electric guitars, backing vocals), Kev Currie (electric guitars, guitar synthesizer, backing vocals), Steve Dundon (flute), Kris Hudson-Lee (bass), Julie King (backing vocals, lead vocal on "A Night At The Savoy, 1933"), Tim Leadbeater (Grand piano on 4 & 7, electric piano solo on 1), Ian 'Walter' Fairbairn (fiddle), Kathy Hampson (cello), John Kennard (backing vocals, darbuka), Mark Woodward (additional violin), Marek Arnold (clarinet, saxes), Leon Camfield (percussion) and Phideaux (as "The MC at the Savoy"). It's an amazing group of individuals executing some amazing music.