The Hidden Horticulturists: The Working-Class Men Who Shaped Britain's Gardens

The Hidden Horticulturists is a book that reveals the untold story of the remarkable young men who played a central role in the history of British horticulture and helped to shape the way we garden today. It was written by Fiona Davison, who unearthed a book of handwritten notes from 1822 by young gardeners in support of their application to be received into the Society's Garden. The notes trace the stories of a selection of these forgotten gardeners, whose lives took divergent paths to create a unique history of gardening. The book celebrates the unsung heroes of horticulture whose achievements reflect a golden moment in British gardening and continue to influence how we garden today.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 07 April 2022
Publisher: Atlantic Books

The Hidden Horticulturists is a captivating book that vividly captures the extraordinary energy and excitement of the time.

Published in 2012, it was chosen as one of the Sunday Telegraph's Top Ten Gardening Books of the Year.

The untold story of the remarkable young men who played a central role in the history of British horticulture and helped to shape the way we garden today.

In 2012, while working at the Royal Horticultural Society's library, Fiona Davison unearthed a book of handwritten notes that dated back to 1822.

The notes, each carefully set out in neat copperplate writing, had been written by young gardeners in support of their application to be received into the Society's Garden.

Amongst them was an entry from the young Joseph Paxton, who would go on to become one of Britain's best-known gardeners and architects.

However, he was far from alone in shaping the way we garden today, and now, for the first time, the stories of the young, working-class men who also played a central role in the history of British horticulture can be told.

Using their notes, Fiona Davison traces the stories of a selection of these forgotten gardeners whose lives would take divergent paths to create a unique history of gardening.

The trail took her from Chiswick to Bolivia and uncovered tales of fraud, scandal, and madness, as well as a large number of fabulous plants and gardens.

This book is a celebration of the unsung heroes of horticulture whose achievements reflect a golden moment in British gardening and continue to influence how we garden today.

Weight: 352g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781786495082
Edition number: Main