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The best DIY and gardening books

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8 books to inspire your next hobby

The gardens and the people who made them

Chatsworth

Discover Jane Austen's real-life inspiration for Darcy's Pemberley. 
 
Follow Alan into Chatsworth's irresistible world of visionaries, pioneers, heroes, villains and English eccentrics, and celebrate the men and women who have shaped the history of the estate over five centuries. With his passionate knowledge of both the house and gardens, as well as his long-established relationship with the Cavendish family, Alan is the perfect guide with whom to explore the Palace of the Peaks. 
 
Featuring stunning, specially commissioned photography of the gardens and parkland, alongside long-forgotten images and memorabilia newly unearthed in the estate archives, this vivid companion, crowded with character and colour, is a book to treasure and revisit over and over again.

Alan Titchmarsh (Author) Alan Titchmarsh MBE is known to millions through his career as a television presenter of shows including Love Your Weekend, Love Your Garden, Ground Force, Gardeners' World, The Alan Titchmarsh Show and Spring Into Summer. He has written more than forty gardening books, as well as twelve novels and three volumes of memoirs. He was made MBE in the millennium New Year Honours list and holds the Victoria Medal of Honour, the Royal Horticultural Society's highest award. Jonathan Buckley (Author) Jonathan Buckley is an award-winning specialist garden and flower photographer who has been sole photographer on over 30 books, as well as contributing to a wide range of magazines and newspapers worldwide. Awards have included the Garden Media Guild Garden Photographer of the Year, Features Photographer of the Year and Single Image of the Year.

Home to sixteen generations of the Cavendish family over nearly five centuries, Chatsworth has played host to as rich a cast of characters as you are likely to find anywhere in the world. They have been, in turn, loved, reviled, extravagant, parsimonious, reclusive and sociable, but they have all left their mark on the landscape that surrounds their fabled family home, the Palace of the Peaks. 
 
Follow Alan Titchmarsh into this irresistible world of visionaries, mavericks and English eccentrics. 
 
Meet the indomitable Bess of Hardwick and her second husband Sir William Cavendish, who bought the Manor of Chatsworth for £600 in 1549 and built the first house there. Since then, the Estate has evolved with each generation, from the 4th Duke and Lancelot 'Capability' Brown in the 1700s, to the Bachelor Duke and the indefatigable Joseph Paxton the following century. From Andrew and Deborah Devonshire, who inherited an Estate that was on its knees in 1950 and ensured its survival when all seemed lost, to the 12th Duke and Duchess, Stoker and Amanda Devonshire, who have taken the reins since 2004. Alan explores the gardens they created. He discovers the real-life stories behind each horticultural triumph and architectural wonder, and we see how this great house and estate has flourished in all its beauty through changing times 
 
With stunning, specially commissioned photography alongside long-forgotten images and memorabilia newly unearthed in the estate archives, this landmark new book is a glorious way to experience the magic of Chatsworth, past and present, wherever you are.

Alan Titchmarsh's Fill My Stocking

Alan Titchmarsh MBE is known to millions through his career as a television presenter of shows including Love Your Weekend, Love Your Garden, Ground Force, Gardeners' World, The Alan Titchmarsh Show and Spring Into Summer. He has written more than forty gardening books, as well as twelve novels and three volumes of memoirs. He was made MBE in the millennium New Year Honours list and holds the Victoria Medal of Honour, the Royal Horticultural Society's highest award.

A great raconteur and entertainer, Alan Titchmarsh gets together every Christmas with family and friends to celebrate the season and performs much-loved anecdotes, stories, poems and sketches - old and new. 
 
Fill My Stocking combines these well-known favourites with his own self-penned festive pieces, each beautifully illustrated with his own watercolour vignettes. 
 
Collected together for the first time, this is the perfect stocking filler for his legions of fans. 
 
Alan Titchmarsh has presented numerous television programmes including the hugely popular How To Be A Gardener and British Isles: A Natural History. He is also a best-selling writer and novelist.

Lost Skills and Crafts Handbook

In this inspirational and practical guide to country life, passionate and hugely knowledgeable countryman Alan Titchmarsh explores the heritage of rural Britain, its landscapes and wildlife, its traditions, customs and crafts. 
The Lost Skills and Crafts Handbook will help you rediscover your love of the countryside, including: 
 
- a checklist of British butterflies and where to find them 
- how to keep chickens, ducks, goats and sheep 
- how to make soap, candles and your own herbal remedies 
- how to track animals and forage for food 
- essential knot tying 
- how to build a campfire without matches 
- how to create a kitchen garden 
- the origins of country superstitions 
 
And much more. With beautiful line art illustrations throughout, this compendium of the British countryside and its delights will be an essential read for any nature lover in your life.

Grow your Own Fruit and Veg

In these turbulent times, Britain is rediscovering a passion for gardening and home produce - and the nation's favourite gardener is here to provide the definitive book on the subject. 
 
Alan Titchmarsh's comprehensive guide will tell you everything you need to know about fruit and veg and how to grow it, from herbs, baby veg, salads, and every-day fruits to gourmet and unusual varieties. As well as providing the key facts needed to yield good results and what to do when things go wrong, the text is sprinkled with Alan's personal observations, anecdotes, culinary tips and quirky historical uses. 
 
Alan's practical approach starts from scratch for those who've never grown their own before, but is also ideal for those with some experience who might be growing edibles in a new way - perhaps in a small space that needs to look attractive, or on a new allotment. Lavishly illustrated throughout, Grow Your Own Fruit and Veg offers inspiration, in-depth knowledge and practical advice, whether you are looking to be self-sufficient or just to grow a few items on your patio or window box. 
 
Originally published as The Kitchen Gardener: Grow Your Own Fruit and Veg

Alan Titchmarsh How to Garden: Weekend Gardening

Alan Titchmarsh shows how to create maximum impact in the garden with minimal effort

We all aspire to a beautiful garden that suits our lifestyle, but it can be hard to keep on top of the day-to-day care that gardens often require to look their best. Perfect for those who struggle with the workload, who want a space to relax in but aren't especially green-fingered, or for those are simply too busy to get stuck in, Weekend Gardening shows how to create an achievable garden that lives up to your dreams with just a few hours of work a week. 
 
* Explains the basic principles of labour-saving garden design 
* Practical gardening projects that can be completed in a weekend 
* Recommended easy-care plants 
* Solutions for difficult sites, including tricky soil types 
* Quick-reference seasonal tasks

Alan Titchmarsh the Gardener's Year

Bestselling author Alan Titchmarsh brings us the definitive guide to gardening throughout the year.

Gives brilliant hints and advice to the beginner and the experienced gardener alike... As stunning as you would expect from a BBC publication

No cheesy makeovers, no outrageous fantasy gardens, this is the real garden. What to do, when to do it, how to do it, all clearly explained and lavishly photographed... Any gardener will be digging  into this one all year round

The Gardener's Year is not about quick fixes, design makeovers or hard drudge, but simply about knowing what you should be doing in your garden, when, and why. 
 
Month by month Alan gives us the low-down on garden maintenance enabling you to keep your garden looking its best all year round. In-depth and packed full of useful gardening tips, it includes advice on everything from what seeds you can plant out in your vegetable plot in May, to how to keep your hanging baskets looking stunning in September.

The Complete How To Be A Gardener

The complete edition of the million-selling gardening series

Whether you're a complete beginner or a keen gardener, there are always times when it helps to have a reliable expert at your side. In The Complete How to be a Gardener, Alan Titchmarsh draws on his extensive knowledge and experience to give you a comprehensive guide to becoming a successful gardener. 
 
 Alan starts with the fundamentals, covering the absolute essentials that every gardener needs to know, including information on how plants work and what they need to survive, as well as where to begin if you're a first-time gardener. Each chapter includes practical advice and step-by-step techniques and projects, as well as information on garden maintenance and a host of Alan's favourite plants to help you in your selection. 
 
 With its perfect balance of down-to-earth information and inspirational garden ideas, this complete paperback edition of How to be a Gardener gets to the very heart of gardening and provides a comprehensive reference manual for any garden owner.

Alan Titchmarsh How to Garden: Wildlife Gardening

Alan Titchmarsh shows how to bring nature into your garden with this definitive guide from the How to Garden series

The most successful gardens work with nature to create natural environments in which jobs such as pollination and pest control are left to the wildlife. In this definitive guide, Alan Titchmarsh shows how to create natural ecosystems in your garden to encourage beneficial insects, birds and other wildlife and establish the best environment in which your garden will thrive. 
 
* Design ideas and planting plans for wildlife-friendly gardens 
* Wildlife gallery showing common birds, mammals, amphibians and insects and how to attract them to your garden 
* How to create natural habitats 
* Recommended trees, shrubs and flowers for biodiversity 
* Seasonal tasks for the year

Alan Titchmarsh How to Garden: Flowering Shrubs

Practical advice from the UK's favourite gardening expert to help you select and grow flowering shrubs in your garden

Flowering shrubs can be the most dramatic and beautiful features in a garden. This book gives Alan Titchmarsh's expert advice on selecting the right plants for you, looking at colour, size and aspect to create stunning effects and healthy, happy plants. 
 
Includes: 
* guidance on choosing flowering shrubs for colour and situation 
* practical advice on planting, general care, propagation, pruning and renovation 
* illustrated A-Z profiles of recommended plants 
* detailed planting plans for using shrubs in borders 
* step-by-step illustrations showing essential techniques 
 
Alan Titchmarsh imparts a lifetime of expertise in these definitive guides for beginners and experienced gardeners. Step-by-step illustrations and easy-to-follow instructions guide you through the basic gardening skills and on to the advanced techniques, providing everything you need to enjoy flowering shrubs in your garden.

Alan Titchmarsh How to Garden: Lawns Paths and Patios

Expert advice on surfacing and practical guidelines on designing and constructing gardens with lawns, pathways, terraces and decking

Lawns, Paths and Patios focuses on creating the basic structure of your garden, and complementing the basic features with planting, design and furniture. 
 
Includes: 
* how to prepare your site and lay turf, paving, paths and decking 
* guidance on choosing materials 
* tips on labour-saving methods and devices 
* practical advice on seasonal care, feeding and watering 
 
Alan Titchmarsh imparts a lifetime of expertise in these definitive guides for beginners and experienced gardeners. Step-by-step illustrations and easy-to-follow instructions guide you through the basic gardening skills and on to the advanced techniques, providing everything you need to create and maintain your dream garden.

The Queen's Houses

An affectionate look at the personal family stories behind the formal grandeur of the royal residences.

The Queen's life was dedicated to her public - every move was scrutinised, every word noted. But her homes were havens where peace could be found, away from watchful eyes; sanctuaries of private calm in a whirlwind life of public duty. 
 
In The Queen's Houses, Alan Titchmarsh takes us on a tour of the royal residences, examining the personal family stories behind these magnificent buildings. Through personal reflections, interviews with royal staff and meticulous historical research, Alan looks beyond the formal grandeur of Buckingham Palace, the imposing structure of Windsor Castle and the private escape offered by Balmoral and others. 
 
Illustrated with intimate family photographs and evocative memorabilia, The Queen's Houses offers a glimpse of life lived behind the state banquets and sovereign duties - a respectful study of the royal family at home.

Alan Titchmarsh How to Garden: Grow Your Own Plants

From sowing seed to taking cuttings and dividing bulbs, Alan Titchmarsh presents the complete practical guide to reproducing your own plants. From the How to Garden series of gardening handbooks

One of the most exciting aspects of gardening is growing your own plants from scratch. In this definitive guide, Alan Titchmarsh shows how simple it is to propagate plants by following a few basic techniques. Learn how to produce a flourishing garden filled with ornamental and edible plants, at very little expense. 
 
 * Demystified, down-to-earth approach to propagation 
 * Easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step diagrams 
 * A–Z directory with recommended propagation techniques for each plant 
 * Key tips on taking cuttings, sowing seed, layering and division 
 * Guidance on promoting growth of young plants

Alan Titchmarsh How to Garden: Flowers and Foliage for Cutting

From plants for winter arrangements to spring bulbs and autumn grasses, Alan Titchmarsh presents the complete practical guide to having something to pick every week of the year. From the How to Garden series of gardening handbooks

We all enjoy having fresh flowers in the home, but they can sometimes be costly and the range is often limited. In this inspiring guide, Alan Titchmarsh shows how to grow a vibrant selection of plants to use in arrangements: flowers of many shapes, sizes and colours, and foliage, berries and seedheads too. With a little planning, you can have something beautiful in your home every day of the year. 
 
 * A–Z directory of Alan’s recommended plants for cutting 
 * Ideas for arrangements and planting plans for cutting plots 
 * Tips on choosing the right plants for your garden 
 * Expert advice on cutting and preparing flowers and foliage 
 * Seasonal recommendations and ideas for special occasions

Elizabeth: Her Life, Our Times

An affectionate tribute to Queen Elizabeth's 60-year reign over an ever-changing Britain and its people.

On 2 June 1953, 27-year-old Princess Elizabeth of York was crowned Queen, the eyes of the world upon her as she dedicated herself to her country. It is fascinating to look back over the sixty years since then and see how this remarkable woman, decade by decade, has brought the monarchy into the modern world, earning admiration and respect for her unerring sense of duty, her determination to innovate, her tremendous dignity, integrity and wisdom. 
 
Drawing from his own experience and time spent with the royal family, alongside additional meticulous research, Alan Titchmarsh observes the woman, the mother and the monarch. He explores key moments in her reign, both personal to her and in a wider historical context, and traces how our relationship with the royal family has developed and morphed, gone through ups and downs, but is arguably now stronger than ever in this very special anniversary year. 
 
Featuring wonderful memorabilia and rarely seen archive photography, Elizabeth II: Her Life, Our Times defines an era, pays tribute to our inexhaustable Queen and celebrates the example of responsibility, loyalty and patriotism she has set for generations past, present and future. She is an inspiration to us all.

Alan Titchmarsh How to Garden: Water Gardening

From ponds and water features to the best aquatic plants, Alan Titchmarsh presents the complete practical guide to making the most of water in your garden. From the How to Garden series of gardening handbooks

Water will bring a garden miraculously to life, drawing the eye more than any other feature. When still, its shimmering reflections create a peaceful mood, while moving water animates the garden scene and delights with its mesmerizing sounds. In this definitive guide, Alan shows you how to design and make a water feature to suit any size and style of garden, from a large wildlife pond, stream or rill to the tiniest pebble or wall fountain. 
 
* Easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step diagrams 
* A–Z directory of Alan’s recommended pond and waterside plants 
* Guide to choosing and caring for fish 
* Key tips on encouraging wildlife to your pond 
* Season-by-season guide to pond maintenance

My Secret Garden

Stunning photography and personal stories behind the growth and development of Alan Titchmarsh's own private garden.

After moving from the Barleywood garden where he hosted BBC Gardeners' World for seven years, Alan Titchmarsh set up home in an old farmhouse a few miles down the road, and went about planting his own private eden away from the public eye. In this horticultural memoir Alan finally reveals all about this secret garden, explaining with his trademark warmth the personal stories behind its design and evolution. Accompanied by beautiful photographs taken by Jonathan Buckley throughout the eight years in which the garden has been made, My Secret Garden allows us access to all of the successes and failures of this diverse and ambitious project. 
 
Comprising many different styles and spaces - from an acre of formal beds and ponds to wild flower meadows and a stunning winter garden - Alan's tales of development and cultivation will be applicable to all gardeners. With the plot encompassing fruit trees, a handsome greenhouse and wildlife-friendly plantings, gardeners of all styles and levels of expertise will find something to enjoy. Driven by Alan's infectious and informative style, My Secret Garden is a fascinating, amusing and inspiring book.

A Natural History

British Isles

Accompanying a major new BBC1 series presented by Alan Titchmarsh, British Isles: A Natural History is a fascinating journey through the natural history of Britain from its birth to the present day. 
 
Written in Alans uniquely readable style, the book chronicles the different periods in Britain's evolution, exploring everything from the geology and geography to the flora and fauna that make up the diverse landscapes of the British Isles. It also includes a gazetteer section detailing where you can explore for yourself Britain's natural treasures. 
 
Beautifully illustrated with 180 colour photographs, it will appeal to natural history enthusiasts and everyone who cares about the country they live in. 
 
The book contains the latest research gathered in the making of this new landmark series from the BBC's NHU in Bristol. 
 
Alan Titchmarsh is a bestselling BBC author and has sold over a million copies of his books which include How To Be A Gardener 1 and 2 and Royal Gardeners.

Royal Gardeners

Alan Titchmarsh takes us on a fascinating tour through the history of Britains royal gardens from medieval times to the present day. Taking in existing royal gardens as well as many that now only exist in paintings, Alan uncovers the stories behind the gardens and the colourful monarchs who created them.  From Hampton Court Palace to Kew Palace and Gardens, to Osborne House and through to the modern day developments at the Prince of Wales' home at Highgrove, Alan takes a highly personal canter through Britains gardening heritage. Fully illustrated with original plans, designs, letters, planting records and full colour diagrams of the major surviving gardens, this is a sumptuous book charting some of the most outstanding gardens in Britain.

A User's Guide to Traditional Skills and Lost Crafts

The Complete Countryman

A practical guide to British country living, from gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh

In this comprehensive and practical guide to the countryside, passionate and hugely knowledgeable countryman Alan Titchmarsh explores the heritage of rural Britain, its landscapes and wildlife, its traditions, customs and crafts. 
 
He'll look at the beauty of chalk downland, offer a checklist of British butterflies and where to find them and show how to make moth traps and wildlife ponds. He'll identify the best breeds of cattle for meat and milk, explain how best to look after a pig and the secrets of a successful small holding. From keeping chickens to dressing a stick, from dry-stone walling to creating a wild flower meadow, the essence of country life and the best places to encounter it will be identified in this celebration of the British countryside and its delights, skills and treasures. 
 
Lavishly illustrated, beautifully produced and information packed, The Complete Countryman will be an inspirational showcase for all that is best about rural Britain and will reconnect us with its wonderful wise ways.

Alan Titchmarsh How to Garden: Pests and Problems

Alan Titchmarsh tackles pests, diseases and other gardening problems in this up-to-date guide from the How to Garden series

In this definitive guide, Alan Titchmarsh addresses key problem areas and provides easy-to-follow guidance on how to protect precious plants. Encouraging gardeners to create healthy ecosystems, Alan talks through the techniques to deal with harmful pests, weeds, diseases and disorders and suggests preventative measures to ensure happy, disease-resistant plants. 
 
* Directory of pests and problems with over 200 colour illustrations 
* Good gardening techniques for preventing disorders 
* How to select the right plants for the right conditions 
* Advice on chemical versus nonchemical treatments 
* Instructions for tackling problems in lawns and borders

P.G. Wodehouse

Frank Skinner

Roddy Doyle

Alan Titchmarsh

Dominic Sandbrook

Deborah Frances-White

Andrew Hunter Murray

Scarlett Curtis

Jasper Fforde

John Finnemore

Ian Moore

William Rayfet Hunter

Fergus Craig

A multi-voiced tribute to a literary great . . . jolly good fun

The funniest writer to ever put words to paper

He has made a world for us to live in and delight in

Wodehouse is the greatest comic writer ever

Paper has rarely been put to better use than printing Wodehouse

For as long as I'm immersed in a P.G. Wodehouse book, it's possible to keep the real world at bay and live in a far, far nicer one where happy endings are the order of the day

Incomparable and timeless genius - perfect for readers of all ages, shapes and sizes!

I'm not sure I can entirely like or trust anyone who doesn't love Jeeves and Wooster

Twelve New Stories

'FULL OF FIZZ AND VARIETY' Sunday Times 
 
'JOLLY GOOD FUN' i Paper 
 
'WHIP-SMART' Daily Mail 
 
'FUN AND FROLICS' Saga Magazine 
 
FEATURING HUGE NAMES FROM LITERATURE, COMEDY AND BEYOND - INCLUDING RODDY DOYLE, FRANK SKINNER AND ALAN TITCHMARSH - THIS ANTHOLOGY OF STORIES REIMAGINES JEEVES AND WOOSTER THROUGH FRESH EYES. 
 
The irrepressible duo first appeared on the page in 1915, coming to feature in more than 35 short stories and eleven novels over the course of Wodehouse’s lifetime. 
 
Each story in this new collection offers a delightful and original reimagining of the incomparable Bertie Wooster and his gentleman’s gentleman – seeing them journey to the horse races in Paris, solve puzzles at a wartime Bletchley Park, and even transported forward in time to the year 2025. 
<ul><li>Frank Skinner</li><li>Roddy Doyle</li><li>Alan Titchmarsh</li><li>Dominic Sandbrook</li><li>Deborah Frances-White</li><li>Andrew Hunter Murray</li><li>Scarlett Curtis</li><li>Jasper Fforde</li><li>John Finnemore</li><li>Ian Moore</li><li>William Rayfet Hunter</li><li>Fergus Craig</li></ul> 
JEEVES AGAIN is a joyful celebration of Wodehouse as a much-beloved British literary icon – as well as a timely and entertaining reminder of the lasting impact of his characters on a whole new generation of readers and writers. 
 
*** 
 
HEAR FROM THE WRITERS . . . 
 
'A Wodehouse book is a journey into joy.' RODDY DOYLE, Booker Prize-winning author of PADDY CLARKE HA HA HA 
 
'Anybody who has even a vague interest in good writing should read Wodehouse.' DOMINIC SANDBROOK, author and co-host of THE REST IS HISTORY 
 
'I simply adore Wodehouse.' ALAN TITCHMARSH MBE, broadcaster and writer 
 
'To stumble into the world of Wodehouse is like sinking into a warm bath.' SCARLETT CURTIS, Sunday Times bestselling author of FEMINISTS DON'T WEAR PINK (AND OTHER LIES) 
 
'What Wodehouse is still today, just as much as ever, is funny.' JOHN FINNEMORE, creator of CABIN PRESSURE

Alan Titchmarsh

Books by Alan Titchmarsh

Series by Alan Titchmarsh

How to Garden

Articles featuring Alan Titchmarsh

Beautiful coffee table books

The best DIY and gardening books

8 books to inspire your next hobby

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