Writing under a variety of nom de plumes, Niall Edworthy has written over a dozen books covering a wide range of subjects from military history, biography and outdoor survival to general humour and sport. In 2002 Niall and his family swapped their London house with its tiny, paved north-facing terrace for a new home with a 'proper' garden at the foot of the South Downs. Niall's love affair with gardening thus began as an arranged marriage, but quickly blossomed into a passion. The more time Niall spent in the garden, however, the more he realised how little he knew about his new obsession. This book is the result of his quest for more knowledge of gardens and the wider natural environment.