He’s the author of the book, ‘To Stand and Stare’, which is now out in paperback - and his gentle philosophy encourages us to take a different approach to gardening, one that’s slower, more contemplative and works in a partnership with nature, rather than trying to dominate it. Andrew’s book isn’t about becoming a lazy gardener, just a more thoughtful one. At the heart of it, he’s encouraging us to take a step back regularly, not necessarily to assess the garden, but to appreciate it more fully.

I spoke to Andrew recently to ask what prompted him to write something which is borderline subversive in the context of the garden - where there always seems to be something to do, and where gardeners can’t seem to stay still for more than five minutes without finding a weed to pull or a flower to deadhead.

You can hear our chat in the video below - or read on for a summary of the book and his approach: “gardening while doing next to nothing”.

Andrew says his aim with the book is to take the pressure off gardening, making it about play, rather than just another list of jobs to do.

“When you say ‘I’m going to make a garden’ or ‘I’m going to garden in this space’ you have to acknowledge that to an extent you’re exerting your own own will on how you want that space to be, and that can be as gentle as you like. You can say ‘actually I don’t want do anything here. I just want to stand here in this spot and look at how nature changes throughout the year and that will be my gardening.’

“What I’m trying to get you to do is to go into the garden and for your shoulders to drop. The whole thing really is about being happy in a garden space.”

Andrew describes gardening as ‘what happens when we get in the way of nature’. In other words, a garden can exist all by itself, it doesn’t really need interference, although left alone it will become a fully wild space. When the gardener intervenes, it becomes a sort of collaboration: you, working with nature and preferably not against it.

The book progresses through the seasons, offering reflections on what is usually happening in a garden at each time of year, and including short ‘how to’ chapters, which are less about the practical actions and more about adopting the right frame of mind, with beautifully descriptive passages about how to slow down and fully engage in the task at hand, whether it’s sowing a seed, picking an apple or digging a hole.

While so many gardening books are full of straightforward instructions, advice and guidance, Andrew’s offers a refreshing lack of instructional material, just a smattering of plant science wrapped up in abundance of poetic prose. It’s a meditation on gardening, nature and the nature of gardening.

Andrew says understanding your plants is the key: “What I wanted to do in the book was to give a little bit of science and horticulture, but within a narrative, so you absorb some information about pruning and photosynthesis, for example, and then use that.

“If people have a little bit of background and understanding they’re less scared to garden, less overwhelmed by the fact that it’s an unknown space - and then you’re working in harmony, in partnership with nature.”

At the heart of this book, as the title suggests, is the idea of standing and staring. Standing still in the garden is described as a mindful, meditative act: consider what your senses tell you - what can you hear, see, smell. Standing isn’t essential - this can all be done in whatever position you find most comfortable - sitting, crouching, lying down - and even better if there’s a cup of hot tea or coffee in hand.

In the name of research I decided to give it a try. Stepping out the back door with a steaming mug on a very cold morning, I picked the spot I enjoy most in early spring: a corner of the back garden which features wilder, woodland planting, and is the first part of the garden to come to life early in the year. It’s at its best in spring when it’s full of hellebores, aquilegia, primroses and hardy geraniums. At the time of standing and staring, it was just getting going, green shoots popping up from the soil and foliage slowly emerging from the dark earth.

Pausing and really looking at the garden in this way encouraged me to notice all of the signs of new life emerging: the small clumps of snowdrops bobbing above damp foliage, green bulb shoots popping out of the soil, and little garden birds flitting about the feeders nearby, and singing in the bushes while they kept themselves well fed on a cold, snowy day.

Surprisingly, I didn’t begin to mentally list all of the things that needed doing in that border. I could have spotted plants that needed cut down, leaves to clear or branches which still need to be pruned. Instead, I appreciated the space and looked forward to watching it bloom in the coming weeks.

I stood until I could catch large flakes of snow in my mug, then took myself back inside, regretfully. I truly love being outside, and taking a moment just to stand and stare was a welcome reminder that I don’t need an excuse or a to-do list to pull on a coat, step over the threshold and really enjoy my garden.

You can buy Andrew’s book* in hardback and now in paperback. You can also find on Substack and read his newsletter, .

To Stand and Stare is a wonderful read which might change the way you look at your garden and spend time in it.

*If you buy through this link, I may earn a small commission. It helps keep the writing (and the plant habit) going.

However, it’s well worth investing in a decent pair of secateurs; a quality pair, regularly maintained will last for years. They’re also built for extended use, which means they shouldn’t strain your hand or wrist - and many are designed ergonomically for anyone suffering health conditions which cause pain or limit their mobility.

I’ve tested a selection of secateurs widely on sale, made by a range of manufacturers. I used each pair to prune a few shrubs, checking their ability to cut cleanly and to remove a range of branches of different sizes. I’ve rated each for comfort, ease of use and design.

Niwaki Shumatsu secateurs - £49.00

Description: These unusual looking secateurs have dimpled, golf ball-like textured handles. They’re made from aluminium which means they’re nice and light, and great for extended use. Ideal for cut flowers, houseplants and general pruning.

On test: the light aluminium handles make these comfortable to wield, and the dimpled texture means there’s enough grip. The clasp holds them securely shut. They can cut easily through branches of various sizes and if you like a reassuring ‘snip’ when you make a cut, these are the ones for you!

Comfort - 5/5

Ease of use - 5/5

Design - 5/5

Alpen Gelbhorn 150 - Gelbhorn 150 Pruning Shear – RRP £29.99

Description: This is a new brand, a sister to the popular brand Felco, which makes tools for professionals and savvy home gardeners. These pruning shears boast fully chromed blades which provide a clean cut up to 20mm. They’re corrosion-resistant and designed principally for outdoor work.

On test: I was very pleasantly surprised by these new secateurs, which cut cleanly and efficiently. They feel sturdy and well-made, with comfortable, grippy handles. They’ve got a pleasing squeeze-open feature too, which is great for one-handed use but does make them a little fiddly to secure closed again, until you get the knack. I like the yellow handles too!

Comfort - 4/5

Ease of use - 3/5

Design - 5/5

Spear & Jackson Compound Action Bypass Secateurs - £29.99

Description: These not only have hardened carbon steel blades for lasting sharpness, they also offer ‘an ergonomic shaped handle with a soft feel grip for enhanced comfort’. Not only that, but the compound action provides a stronger cutting force, with no extra effort required from the user.

On test: These have a comfortable shape and they’re quite light to handle, although they do open very wide and I found them a little slippy, especially when I had gloves on. However the compound action of these secateurs is fantastic, making light work of larger branches - I could definitely see myself reaching for these when there’s a big pruning job to be done. The ambidextrous locking catch feels smooth and secure too.

Comfort - 4/5

Ease of use - 3/5

Design - 4/5

Spear & Jackson Vintage Bypass Secateurs - £9.00

Description: Designed in an authentic vintage style for those who appreciate traditional hand tools, these are made with carbon steel blades for strength and durability. There are cushioned, non-slip handles and a built-on locking catch for safe carrying and storage.

On test: A lovely pair of secateurs, which might remind you of the tools you or your parents used to have. I like the balance of handle and blades; the non-slip grips feel safe and comfortable, and there’s a reliable, traditional locking catch. I found it more difficult to cut bigger branches with these, so they may not be for intensive use or very tough jobs, but they are an attractive and useful pair for general, everyday use with another satisfying ‘snip’. A great bargain.

Comfort - 4/5

Ease of use - 4/5

Design - 5/5

Kent & Stowe Sure Cut All Purpose Lite Secateurs - £20.00

Description: Kent & Stowe say these secateurs deliver immaculate cuts, “effortlessly slicing through greenery, flowers, as well as shrubs.” The die-cast aluminum handles feature a special ‘micro hex’ grip, which is ergonomic for extended use. They’re good for right or left hand use, and have an adjustable hand sizer.

On test: These have a good grip, they’re light, comfortable and easy to hold, with or without gloves. I liked being able to adjust the size of the secateurs, as I have fairly small hands. The 24mm cutting diameter means they were useful for pruning most sizes of branches in my shrubbery, though I had to use two hands for the larger cuts!

Comfort - 4/5

Ease of use - 5/5

Design - 4/5

Kent & Stowe Traditional All-Purpose Secateurs -

Another traditional style handcrafted pair of secateurs - and these boast high quality carbon steel blades with a non-stick finish. They’re good for a wide variety of gardening tasks as they’ve been specifically designed for cutting delicate stems and live wood. Kent & Stowe claims the design reduces the risk of bruising or damaging the plant stems, promoting healthier growth and quicker healing.

On test: I liked the easy-open squeeze and release lock, which made it easier to operate these quickly or one-handed. They feel high-quality and well made - but those weighty blades mean they’re a little on the heavy side, and I found the handles uncomfortable after using them for a while.

Comfort - 3/5

Ease of use - 3/5

Design - 4/5

Bonus extra: Niwaki snips

A neat, slim pair of garden snips which are ideal for quick tasks like deadheading or cutting flowers for the vase, or collecting herbs and crops for the kitchen. I have a well-loved and well-used pair which come in handy year-round.

There you have it - some recommendations for the next time you’re in the market for a new pair. Or even when you’re not - after all, it’s always handy to have a pair at the back door, one in the greenhouse, one in the shed, one in your pocket…

Each year when I’m seed shopping I love to select a few favourites, those plants which I can rely upon for a good display or for lots of tasty fruit. I also choose some new varieties which look interesting, or have come highly recommended. I quite often note these throughout the growing season, compiling a wish list which becomes quite long by the time I’m stocking up on seeds again!

I have a few go-to seed suppliers, including Chiltern, Kings Seeds, Sarah Raven, Thompson & Morgan and Plants of Distinction. This year I’ve also sourced sweet peas from the specialist Roger Parsons, and some very pretty cosmos and poppies from boutique growers Alma | Proust.

If you’re a member of certain organisations you may have access to a community seed library, and this can be really useful for finding something unusual or rare. I’m a member of Garden Organic so I can pick up to six packets of seed each year from their Heritage Seed Library - and there are some really interesting and little-known types of vegetables on offer. I’m also in the Hardy Plant Society, which means I have access to the seeds submitted by members from across the country.

Even after I’ve collected several packets from all of the usual places, I often find myself picking up even more at the local community garden’s seed swap! These are excellent for sourcing seeds from reliable, locally-grown plants, and a good opportunity to share your own, if you have a few extra packets or seeds you’ve collected.

Some of the seeds I’m sowing this year - one a firm favourite, the other a new trial:

Sweet Pea ‘Pandemonium’ - I discovered this variety last year and it was hands-down the best performing flower in my cut flower patch. These prolific pink blooms just kept coming from early summer until it was almost autumn!

Sweet Pea ‘King’s Ransom’ - this is apparently ‘the’ sweet pea of 2025 and is in high demand. It’s an unusual colour described as everything from burnt orange to dusky salmon.

Pansy ‘Mulberry Shades’ - another new favourite which I grew for the first time in 2024, this little charmer has such beautiful rich colouring, plus it’s very hardy and long-flowering.

Pansy ‘Chianti’ - by contrast this pansy is frilled and flouncy in pretty shades of raspberry, peach and lemon-yellow and I couldn’t resist the urge to try it.

Nasturtium ‘Ladybird Rose’ - this soft-coloured nasturtium has peachy-pink petals with deep maroon markings; it’s quite a subtle and compact nasturtium and a great companion for vegetables or flowers in a container.

Nasturtium ‘Crime Scene’ - this one, on the other hand, will make a big impact with its large, blood-red flowers - I’m looking forward to seeing the high drama of this nasturtium in bloom!

Tomato ‘Sungold’ - I’ve grown this variety for several years in a row because it’s such a sweet and tasty little cherry tomato. It’s usually a healthy, reliable plant, providing a good crop of fruit.

Tomato ‘Noire de Crimee’ - I decided to test this tomato because of its unusual dark red-black colouring, plus it’s said to have an incredible flavour - I’ll find out later in the year!

Book Review: Pansies by Brenna Estrada

I already had a burgeoning interest in violas and pansies before I read Brenna Estrada’s book, but now that I’ve read it, I’m truly obsessed!

This beautiful hardback book is a love letter to the pansy or viola - as Brenna explains in the introduction, they’re of the same family with only very small differences between them, or in other words “all pansies are violas, but not all violas are pansies.”

In any case, it doesn’t really matter. Whether they’re called pansies or violas these charming little flowers have a longer history and a wider range of varieties than you might think. Brenna’s book outlines the origins of these flowers, and how their popularity grew during the 19th century, leading to a pansy craze and the cultivation of many more fancy varieties.

She then details her own experiences of growing pansies, discovering the best growing conditions, varieties and techniques to keep them alive for much longer than their traditional annual lifespan. They’re not usually viewed as cut flowers, but the author recommends a number of pansies which can develop longer stems for cutting and showcases a range of seasonal flower arrangements, along with the diverse ways the leaves and petals can be used in the kitchen or medicinally.

The standout section of this book, however, is the list of 50 pansies and violas available today which Brenna has trialled in her garden in the US with information on their colour, season, fragrance and personality as a cut flower. It’s all accompanied by gorgeous photography and the author’s passion for this little plant shines through on every page.

You won’t be able to read it without picking up a pack of pansies on your next visit to the garden centre, or ordering some seeds to grow them for yourself - like I did! And so you should, because these pretty and hardworking little flowers deserve their moment in the spotlight.

You can buy Brenna’s book here at Bookshop.org (this is an affiliate link – which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to buy, at no extra cost to you.)

🧑🏻‍🎄 The Cultivar Christmas Gift Guide 🎄

Gardening Tool Holster

genus.gs, £49.00

Designed for hands-free work around the garden, this tool holster by Genus Gardenwear holds everything you could possibly need - it can be slung around the hips or over the shoulder, or you can slot it on to your own belt. With six pockets the holster can fit secateurs, gloves, a trowel, snips, seed packets, a phone, a pen - and you still have the option to clip on other accessories like the Genus twine pouch or your keys. There’s a removable and adjustable hip or shoulder strap and a cushioned mesh back for extra comfort.

I’ve been trialling one of these for a few weeks and can really recommend it - it’s tough canvas but comfy to wear and holds loads of useful things!

Herb Tubes

seedball.co.uk, £30.00

These clever little seed balls can be scattered in the garden, in pretty window boxes or in hanging baskets, making it really easy to grow healthy, aromatic herbs. The beautifully illustrated tubes come in a convenient set of five, featuring a curated selection including: basil, chive, mint, parsley and wild rocket salad. This set is perfect for creating a well-rounded herb garden which will please pollinators and cooks alike. Each Seedball Herb Tube is also available to buy individually - perfect for stocking fillers!

POTR

potr.co, from £16.00

Decorative, unusual and eco-friendly, POTR is a range of innovative self-watering planters crafted with an origami-inspired design. Made from 95% less material than traditional planters, and constructed from recycled plastics in a range of colours, these unique, sustainable pots arrive flat-packed through the letterbox, ensuring the smallest carbon footprint possible - and great for gifting to a long-distance friend or relative as you can easily pop it in the post.

Feverfew Luxury Pamper Hamper

feverfew.co.uk, £58.00

This thoughtfully curated collection offers a blend of gardening essentials and artisan self-care products: featuring Feverfew’s award-winning, high-quality designer women’s gardening gloves in Original Green or Plum, a natural nail brush, British wildflower seeds, nourishing Lavender & Cypress or Sandalwood Gardener's hand cream and hand soap, soothing Pukka tea and a hand-poured soy candle. It’s the perfect gift for gardeners to pamper and rejuvenate their hardworking hands and soul.

Bob the Robin

octopusbooks.co.uk, £16.99

In this beautiful, festive-looking book gardener and wildlife photographer Tony Putman tells the story of his touching relationship with a tiny robin, Bob, who befriended him as he worked in a garden in Kent. Tony shares his touching journey with the little robin, and tells the story of our unwavering affection for these treasured creatures. It’s an informative book about the life of a robin, as well as a beautiful love letter to these spirited and lively birds - who offer us a connection with nature and a source of comfort and joy.

This article was originally published in The People’s Friend, December 2024

This time, I had the pleasure of attending the Garden Media Guild Awards at The Savoy in central London. It’s an event that takes place every year to celebrate all the great things going on in the world of garden media, and the people behind them. Writers, photographers, podcasters, influencers, broadcasters - all with a love of gardening and communicating their passion to the wider world.

I’ve been a member of the guild for several years, and recently joined the committee, so the awards lunch is a great opportunity to meet with other members face to face. Most of us are freelancers, and spread right throughout the country, so the chance to get together and catch up, discussing all that we have in common, is really valuable and enjoyable.

It’s also really interesting to find out who wins, and to celebrate the best of the past year’s gardening content! If you’re keen to know more, the list of winners is here on the Garden Media Guild’s website.

During the welcome reception I was lucky enough to bump into top gardening expert David Hurrion, and took the opportunity to let him know how much I’m enjoying his book ‘The Raised Bed Book’ - which has reminded me to share with you my mini-review of this excellent volume!

The Raised Bed Book by David Hurrion

I have six raised beds in my ‘Secret Garden’, which make up a large part of my growing space. Despite using them for the past 10 years I still have mixed results, and the wooden beds themselves are beginning to show signs of wear and tear.

So when I discovered this new book by David Hurrion, a professional gardener with expertise in growing, writing and teaching, I knew I would have to get my hands on a copy. I was hoping for some expert advice on the best techniques for success in raised bed growing, which might help guide me as I decide how best to revitalise this space in my garden. I’m glad to say this book doesn’t disappoint!

David introduces the pros and cons, the requirements, and the many benefits of growing in this way. He delves into great detail on the different kinds of plants you can grow in raised beds, including fruit, herbs, alpines, cut flowers and even pond plants. David also introduces us to his ‘Raised Bed Heroes’ - who share their own specialisms and their experiences of ‘elevated growing’.

A substantial portion of the book gives practical advice on designing and building different kinds of beds, with a selection to suit all styles and budgets. There are creative options too, such as using containers or tyres, creating a herb spiral, a roof garden or growing vertically against a wall.

The Raised Bed Book contains a huge amount of practical advice on this topic, including the importance of the soil, how to water, planting out, and maintenance. David’s style is approachable, practical and knowledgeable, without being overly complicated, and I enjoyed the perspectives of the other expert gardeners too. It’s an informative and enjoyable read which is well worth picking up, whether you already have some raised beds or if you fancy giving them a try.

I’m certain I’ll be referring to it time and again during the growing season to come, when I hope to keep improving the soil, fixing up those beds, and packing them full of healthy, beautiful and productive plants.

You can buy The Raised Bed Book at Bookshop.org (This is an affiliate link – which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to buy, at no extra cost to you).

This review was published in The People’s Friend, September 2024