Head Gardeners

"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." -- Philippa Stockley * Country Life * "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." -- Gillian Mawrey * Historic Gardens Review * "From Cumbria to Cornwall Ambra Edwards has talked most enjoyably to working gardeners in charge of very varied gardens." -- Robin Lane-Fox * Financial Times * "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." -- David Sexton * Evening Standard * "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." -- Ursula Buchan * The Garden * "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." -- Fionnuala Fallon * Irish Times *