These are some of the books, gardens, nurseries, organisations and resources that have inspired my own journey in gardening. They are simply my personal recommendations, but I hope they inspire you too.
Books
Soil – Matthew Evans
A fascinating and accessible exploration of the living world beneath our feet. This book beautifully explains why healthy soil is the foundation of healthy gardens, healthy food and a healthy planet.
The Garden Jungle – Dave Goulson
One of the best books for anyone wanting to garden with wildlife in mind. Practical, inspiring and full of simple ideas that can make a real difference.
Silent Earth – Dave Goulson
A thought-provoking look at the dramatic decline of insects and why they matter to every ecosystem. Essential reading for understanding biodiversity loss.
The One-Straw Revolution – Masanobu Fukuoka
A timeless classic introducing natural farming and the philosophy of working with nature rather than against it. Gentle, profound and surprisingly relevant to gardeners today.
Meadowland: The Private Life of an English Field – John Lewis-Stempel
A beautifully written account of a single English meadow across the seasons. A reminder that even familiar landscapes hold extraordinary lives.
God Is an Octopus: Loss, Love and a Calling to Nature – Ben Goldsmith
A moving memoir exploring grief, hope and our relationship with the natural world. It celebrates the healing power of nature and the importance of restoring it.
The Book of Wilding: A Practical Guide to Rewilding, Big and Small – Isabella Tree
A practical guide packed with ideas for encouraging nature back into gardens, farms and communities, whatever the size of your outdoor space.
More Books Celebrating Nature, Connection & Earth Wisdom
These books explore our relationship with the living world through ecology, indigenous wisdom, psychology and spirituality. Whether or not you share every perspective, they invite us to slow down, pay attention and reconnect with nature.
Braiding Sweetgrass – Robin Wall Kimmerer
A beautifully written blend of science, indigenous wisdom and storytelling that encourages us to see the natural world as a community to which we belong, rather than a resource to exploit.
The Wisdom Wheel – Alberto Villoldo
Drawing on Andean and Amazonian traditions, this book explores how living in harmony with nature’s cycles can bring greater meaning, balance and connection. Rooted in shamanic teachings, it offers a thoughtful perspective on our relationship with the Earth and our place within it.
The Hidden Life of Trees – Peter Wohlleben
A fascinating look at how trees communicate, cooperate and support one another, changing the way many people think about forests.
Finding the Mother Tree – Suzanne Simard
The remarkable story behind the discovery of underground fungal networks and how forests function as connected communities.
If Women Rose Rooted – Sharon Blackie
A beautifully written blend of memoir, Celtic mythology and ecology that explores belonging, place and our deep-rooted relationship with the living Earth.
🌿 Local Nurseries
I encourage people to support independent nurseries whenever possible. Their plants are often better suited to local conditions, are usually grown with greater care, and the staff have invaluable horticultural knowledge.
- Imberhorne Lane Nursery
- Bolney Nursery
- Marchants Hardy Plants
- Organic Louvain Nurseries
Compost & Soil Products
Heritage Products
Excellent peat-free composts, mulches, soil conditioners and natural landscaping materials.
https://heritage-products.co.uk
🌼 Wildflower Seed
Emorsgate Seeds
One of the UK’s leading suppliers of native British wildflower seed and meadow mixtures.
🌳 Gardens to Visit
My favourite gardens to visit in the area.
Great Dixter
A world-famous garden celebrating naturalistic planting, biodiversity and the legacy of Christopher Lloyd. Every visit offers fresh inspiration.
Sussex Prairies
An exuberant prairie-style garden demonstrating the beauty of large-scale perennial planting and natural movement.
Borde Hill Garden
Renowned for its collection of rare trees, shrubs and seasonal planting, set within beautiful parkland and woodland walks.
Nymans
A National Trust garden blending ruins, woodland, formal planting and one of the UK’s finest collections of trees and shrubs.
🦋 Sussex Nature Recovery Initiative
- Sussex Local Nature Recovery Strategy
- Weald to Waves
- Lewes Swift Supporters
- Knepp Estate
🌍 Learning & Inspiration
- Small Woods
- Living with the Land
- We Are The Ark
- Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)
- The Soil Association
- Charles Dowding
- RSPB
- The Woodland Trust
- Sussex Wildlife Trust
- Knepp Estate
- RHS – Invasive Non-native Plants
- Non-native Species Secretariat
🎙 Podcasts
In Defense of Plants – Matt Candeias
A fascinating podcast covering botany, ecology, conservation and plant science, introducing researchers and conservationists from around the world.
https://www.indefenseofplants.com
More to Explore
Gardening is a lifelong journey of learning. I’m continually discovering new books, gardens and organisations, so I’ll keep adding to this page as I find new resources worth sharing.
Garden Regeneration 