Head Gardeners

Head Gardeners

By Ambra Edwards By (photographer) Charlie Hopkinson

Winner of the Inspirational Book of the Year, Garden Media Guild
Awards

Ambra Edwards and Charlie Hopkinson explore, in words and pictures,
the lives, visions and achievements of fourteen very different head
gardeners.

"Ambra Edwards's fascinating interviews show what diversity there is in British gardens. It's a book about people and how they tick - people who happen to be gardeners." - The Times


"An informative and eye-opening delight." - Philippa Stockley, Country Life

“The author, well-known for her sparky writing style and broad hinterland of interests, has interviewed 14 head gardeners in search of some answers, teaming up with the highly empathetic and skilled photographer Charlie Hopkinson to produce this visually appealing and revealing book about some remarkable people in horticulture… Nor is it hard to argue with her view that gardeners are undervalued by society, in status and reward. Let’s hope this brilliant book goes some way to redressing that.” - Ursula Buchan, The Garden

Ambra Edwards is a journalist with a special interest in garden history, and the people, passions and often surprising stories that lie behind our gardens. Three times voted the Garden Media Guild's Garden Journalist of the Year (2006, 2009 and 2015), she is a regular contributor to The Guardian, the Telegraph, Gardens Illustrated, Hortus and Country Living.

She lives in Dorset.

Charlie Hopkinson is a portrait and landscape photographer specializing in the arts, gardening and landscape. As well as being published in magazines and books worldwide, his work is exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery. He lives in London.

"This is a marvellous book. The photos and the text together make for a very successful piece of publishing."

Kent Gardeners Trust

"An informative and eye-opening delight."

Country Life Philippa Stockley

"Ambra Edwards's fascinating interviews show what diversity there is in British gardens. It's a book about people and how they tick - people who happen to be gardeners."

The Times

"Edwards is so skilled at unearthing the often conflicting passions of her subjects you feel as though you are eavesdropping on an intimate conversation, illuminating person and place. Charlie Hopkinson's eloquent photographs capture the essence of their subjects.  The book is also a covert plea for investment in gardeners at all levels."

Gardens Illustrated

"Rarely do garden books move me to tears, but certain pages in Head Gardeners were so moving that I found myself welling up. This is a book which celebrates a gardener's resilience and imagination as well as the traditional gardening virtues."

Historic Gardens Review Gillian Mawrey

"From Cumbria to Cornwall Ambra Edwards has talked most enjoyably to working gardeners in charge of very varied gardens."

Financial Times Robin Lane-Fox

"Thoughtful, sympathetic essay-interviews. Charlie Hopkinson's photographs illustrate this compact volume well - and it's a new insight into the dedication of those who do the hard work of keeping great gardens alive."

Evening Standard David Sexton

"Includes interviews with 14 of Britain's most exciting gardeners. It allows head gardeners to tell their story, and gives us an insight into how their eyes and brains work."

Image magazine

"The writing is luminous and the stories are fascinating. It is a book that is achingly poignant and entirely inspiring."

Berkshire Life

"An engaging book … the skill set required is boggling:  from arboriculture to folly maintenance, budgets to blogging, Charlie Hopkinson’s brilliant portraits capture their doughtiness.”

World of Interiors

“The author, well-known for her sparky writing style and broad hinterland of interests, has interviewed 14 head gardeners in search of some answers, teaming up with the highly empathetic and skilled photographer Charlie Hopkinson to produce this visually appealing and revealing book about some remarkable people in horticulture… Nor is it hard to argue with her view that gardeners are undervalued by society, in status and reward. Let’s hope this brilliant book goes some way to redressing that.”

The Garden Ursula Buchan

"How wonderful to see the passion and craftsmanship of 14 head gardeners celebrated in this new book."

Waitrose Weekend

"Lowther Castle's Martin Ogle features on the book's cover as Charlie's fantastic photographs provide real glimpses into each gardener's working life. Martin's own words on managing volunteers and the evolving life of Lowther's gardens are fascinating."

Cumbria Life

"Ambra Edwards shines a bright light on the challenges of a profession that’s too often underrated and misunderstood."

Irish Times Fionnuala Fallon
Imprint
The Pimpernel Press Ltd
Publisher
The Pimpernel Press Ltd
Language
English
Product Format
Paperback
Dimensions
230 x 170
Publication Date
Mar 4, 2021
Number of Pages
280
ISBN
9781910258323