Key to discovering more about your favourite hobby is the reading of inspiring, pithy and easily understood writing from an author who knows their subject well. And that writing has to be well edited and interpreted with relevant images and suitable headings to make the information simple to access.
David’s career in journalism started as sub editor for Amateur Gardening magazine in 1990, since when he has worked in diverse roles including features editor, production editor and gardening editor and editor on the pick of the nation’s crop of gardening titles. He has also written as a freelance contributor for numerous magazine including Amateur Gardening, BBC Easy Gardening, BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, Homes & Gardens, RHS The Garden, The Gardener, Saga Magazine, Woman’s Own and Your Garden.
The written word
More recently David was deputy editor of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine. During this time he was responsible for ensuring horticultural accuracy of the title, as well as writing regular features, advertorials, cross-promotional and marketing material. A key part of this role involved researching, planning and directing photoshoots with Carol Klein, Monty Don, Alan Titchmarsh and other talent, as well as commissioning these key contributors. In this senior position he was involved in all aspects of magazine craft, including the management of an experienced team. Working in partnership with the editor, he was responsible for the editorial direction, horticultural content and development of the print and digital formats of the magazine, in adherence with strict BBC editorial guidelines, as well as editing and final-proofing each issue.
He maintains his involvement with the gardening press by being associate editor for the title and was responsible for making the Christmas wreaths featured on the December 2017 issue of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine. He is also a member of the Garden Media Guild and has been a finalist in their yearly awards, most recently as Practical journalist of the Year in 2015.
David has written books including Pests and Diseases, Your Essential Guide to Pruning and Gardening for Shade (all published by BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine), a Pocket Reference Guide to Gardening Terms and Rosy Hardy: 25 Years of Chelsea. He has also written for gardenersworld.com and has contributed to a number of other websites.
“I have collaborated on several projects with David – including my 25 Years of Chelsea book – and love his brilliant ideas and professional approach to work.”
“David’s wide knowledge of his subject and years of practical experience mean he is able to write with a conviction that inspires confidence in the reader.”
MY BLOG
What is the best time to sow beans?
Beans are an easy and rewarding crop to grow for summer and the best time to sow them is in the spring. This will produce early plants that will start producing a crop in summer. In temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere this means sowing in late March or .....
What are the clumps of twigs in trees
Take a walk in the woods or look into the crowns of birch trees in winter and you’ll see not only a beautiful tracery of branches, but some unusual clumps of twigs that you might mistake for nests. In most cases, these will be witches’ brooms and there’ll usually .....
Titles contributed to…
