The Accidental Garden : Gardens, Wilderness and the Space In Between: SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE

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Sue says about The Accidental Gardener: "Essentially an account of creation of Mabey's own Norfolk garden, but also a reflection on the act of gardening itself, questioning how muc h we should intervene, manage, adapt and introduce. A thought provoking read." We regard gardens as our personal dominions, where we can create whatever worlds we desire. But they are also occupied by myriads of other organisms, all with their own lives to lead. The conflict between these two power bases, Richard Mabey suggests, is a microcosm of what is happening in the larger world. Rooted in the daily dramas of his own Norfolk garden, Mabey offers a different scenario, where nature becomes an equal partner, a 'gardener' itself. Against a background of disordered seasons he watches his 'accidental' garden reorganising itself. Ants sow cowslip seeds in the parched grass. Moorhens take to nesting in trees. A spectacular self-seeded rose springs up in the gravel. The garden becomes a place of cultural and ecological fusion, and perhaps a metaphor for the troubled planet. This is vintage Mabey - maverick, intensely observed, and written with an unquenchable sense of wonder. Author: Mabey, Richard Conservation of wildlife & habitats Published on 1 May 2025 by Profile Books Ltd in the United Kingdom.Paperback / softback | 176 pages129 x 198 x 13 | 150g Show more