Adam Frost, Gardeners’ World presenter, seven-times Chelsea Gold Medal Winner, and author has just published his second book:
RHS The Creative Gardener: Inspiration and Advice to Create the Space You Want.
Adam Frost: The Creative Gardener
The Creative Gardener: Inspiration and Advice to Create the Space You Want is now available in our Ottery St Mary garden centre.
The book is packed full of ideas to easily transform your garden, and add personal flare.
There is something to suit every taste, space and budget!
Grab your signed copy from our Ottery St Mary store at a special price of £16.99*.
*while stocks last. RRP: £20.00
Q&A
Find out what the book means to Adam and why, in his eyes, gardening is personal…
Where does the passion for gardening and landscape design originate?
It originated from my Grandparents. Growing up, I had two Nans who were really into gardening in very different ways. I called them Scruffy Nan and Tidy Nan! Scruffy Nan has a really bohemian garden which was all an overgrown wilderness which was an amazing place to play and hide in, whereas Tidy Nan lived in social housing which has the classic straight lawn and borders on each side and they also has an allotment.
What is the Creative Gardener about and why did you want to write it?
Because I needed something to do in lockdown, to be honest. No, seriously, it’s really a follow up to RHS How To Create Your Garden, the first book that I did for DK. That book took you right through from understanding the space, creating it, planting it, a little bit of looking after it, but also how to build it. And this seemed a natural progression. I think gardens, for me, are about plants, people, space, and place. So if you can personalise your garden, so it’s all about you, family memories, whatever it might be, it becomes just that little bit more special, you know? And I think that was what was driving this book.
In what ways have you personalised your own garden?
So many different ways. Actually when I was making all the projects for the book I realised that it was giving me a connection to all the Frost side of my family who were all really good with their hands, so they made things. So there was that connection. I carry the memories of my two Nans in each garden by growing many of the plants they both loved in their gardens, and every time I plant a potato, I think of my Grandad who grew them. I also look forward to creating new memories with my family in the garden. I want to bring their personality into the garden, and I do that with clients too. A garden has to be for the people who use it.
For a garden designer you are very hands on, why do you think that is and why is it important to you?
I don’t know. I was a kid that started in the parks department, and I wasn’t the best behaved young man, and so I didn’t have options to go into design early on. And the whole thing’s evolved. Initially, when I went into design, I was still a landscaper, I was still a gardener. So I guess I’ve always has that ‘doing’ side as well as the design. There’s an incredible enjoyment in the actual making of something, and I think sometimes that is what we miss as human beings, we try to get to the end too quickly so we finish. But for me, there’s probably as much joy to be had from the process. And hopefully that comes though in the book.
Do you think the world of gardening is changing? Because it’s often perceived as being for older people with a lot of time on their hands. Do you see the younger generation of people coming through?
I think so, yes, and even more so in the last two years. They say we’ve got 3 million more gardeners now. I’ve certainly noticed it through social media and the messages we get. There is now a younger generation talking to me about their gardens and growing, whether that’s houseplants or small spaces, whatever it might be. Yes, I definitely think that there’s a little bit more buy-in by a bigger group of people, and that can only be a good thing.
Visit our Ottery St Mary store to pick up your signed copy
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