The story of how Beth Chatto created her famous gravel garden will give hope to all gardeners who hope their plants may flourish in spite of poor soil and drought.

'If ever there was a book to make one a better, more knowledgeable gardener, this is surely it.' – The English Garden

'Beth Chatto has to be the plantswoman of the century.' – Mary Keen

'Beautiful, helpful, book from the late, great, legend who is Beth Chatto.' – 5* Reader Review


Legendary gardener and plantswoman Beth Chatto describes how she transformed a piece of wasteland into a lush and blooming garden in this beautiful book, filled with helpful tips and practical advice.

The story of how Beth Chatto created her gravel garden on 'possibly the driest, and the most windswept, piece of soil in England' has a message of hope for gardeners everywhere. At the outset she promised herself: 'This garden was not to be irrigated in times of drought. Once established the plants must fend for themselves or die.' 

The results, eloquently described by the author and beautifully portrayed in Steven Wooster’s specially commissioned photographs taken through the seasons, testify to the triumphant outcome of the adventure.

Showing how her principles can be applied on any scale, this book is an essential read for any gardener facing water shortages and poor soil. Rich with hard-won tips and expressed in Beth Chatto’s matchless style, this is a gardening classic.