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Frances Tophill

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Frances Tophill
Born
Deal, Kent
Alma materScotland's Rural College
OccupationsGardener, conservationist, sustainability campaigner, television presenter and gardening writer
Known forAppearances on Love Your Garden and Gardeners' World

Frances Tophill is a British horticulturist, author, and television presenter known for her contributions to Love Your Garden and Gardeners' World. She has written five books.

Early life

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Tophill was born in Deal,[1] Kent, and is one of three sisters.[2] She did a BTEC in jewellery design, but was not interested in jewellery, and, aged 19, decided she wanted to be a gardener.[3] She did an apprenticeship at the garden at The Salutation, Sandwich.[3] She went on a degree in horticulture with plantsmanship from the Scottish Agricultural College and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, finishing in 2013.[4]

Career

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In 2011, Tophill auditioned as a presenter on ITV's Love Your Garden, and was successful.[3] In 2016, she became a presenter on the BBC's Gardeners' World.[5]

In June 2022, her first show-garden won a platinum medal and best in show at Gardeners' World Live at the NEC in Birmingham.[6] It showed a post-apocalyptic garden.[3]

Her book, The Modern Gardener: A practical guide for creating a beautiful and creative garden (Octopus Publishing, 2022), has been described as containing a "passionate, environmental debate" about gardening and gardeners.[7]

Tophill works with the Royal Horticultural Society's Campaign for School Gardening to promote gardening to young people.[4]

She is a regular panellist on BBC Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time.[8]

Personal life

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Tophill lives in Devon.[3] She is a quilter and amateur ceramicist.[9][10]

Books

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  • The First-Time Gardener. Kyle Books, 2015
  • The Container Gardener. Kyle Books, 2017, ISBN 978-0857833808
  • Container Gardener's Handbook. Companion House Books, 2018, ISBN 978-0857832542
  • Rewild Your Garden: Create a haven for birds, bees, and butterflies. Quercus Books, 2020, ISBN 978-1529410259
  • The Modern Gardener: A practical guide for creating a beautiful and creative garden. Octopus Publishing, 2022, ISBN 978-0857839435
  • A Year in a Small Garden: Creating a Beautiful Garden in Any Space. BBC Books - Ebury Publishing, 2024, ISBN 9781785948640

References

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