Simon Akeroyd

@sagardenwriter

http://simonakeroyd.co.uk/

Simon Akeroyd has written numerous horticultural books and articles for national garden and lifestyle magazines and writes in monthly magazine Grow Your Own as ?The Allotment Gardener.?

I managed to get an interview with him as part of the ?Author Spotlight? feature on our blog. He is a friendly, enthusiastic and ambitious man who has achieved so much in his life.

1. What inspired you to write your first book?

I always loved books and wanted to write books from a young age and I found myself really lucky. I started gardening at the Royal Horticulture Society (RHS) and found it so inspirational, from there I was lucky enough to be offered a job at the BBC as a writer and researcher, I learnt so many skills; how to write, ways of forming sentences and this is when I decided to write my first book; ?Shrubs and Small Trees.? I would say my time at Battleston Hill, Wisley was when I realised how much I loved trees, flowers and shrubs as it is an amazing place- it?s the world?s most famous collection of trees and this inspired me to tell other people about it in the hope other people would enjoy it as much as I do

2. Where did you pick up your knowledge?

My writing skills came from the BBC as they trained me as a journalist and a researcher- I was there for 5 years as a horticulture/gardener writer. I started my writing in 1997.

My gardening skills came from Wisley gardens, 30 students and trainees worked there and I was trained as a gardener. I started in the fruit and veg department (fruit and veg is my passion) and looked after the lawns, eventually I got to test new plants/trees. I now work for the National Trust as a gardener.

3. What books have influenced you the most?

Gardening books- I would have to say Joy Larkcom and her book ?Creative Veg Gardening? she is incredibly talented and it?s a beautiful book about edible plants, she was one of the first people to do this kind of writing and I loved it, I even went to her lecture at Wisley where she signed her book for me. Later in life she actually wrote a letter to me giving me advice on how to become a gardener.

 4.    Tell me a couple of people that have influenced your life?

Well, most definitely Joy Larkcom, the writer I have previously mentioned but also Russell Page and his book ?The Education of a Gardener? it?s so well written and discusses design elements of gardening. Another influence would have to be, Roy Lancaster and Geoff Hamilton, Roy has an amazing knowledge for plants and Geoff is a presenter on Gardeners World and was the first person to speak about organic products.

 5. Any tips for our readers who want to grow their own fruit and veg?

Grow quick- radishes/carrots/lettuce all grow fast and therefore make it simpler

Small space- don?t try and start off too big. If you want an allotment space, start on just ½ allotment

Easy- don?t make your life too difficult, start of easier

Size- don?t be disheartened if your garden is small, you can grow fruit and veg in any size garden.

 6. Do you have any advice for beginner gardeners/garden writers?

 Try and stay positive, don?t get disheartened if you get a knock-back, keep trying. Don?t do it for the money, do it because you have a passion for it and you love it. Start with blogs and social media, take lots of photos and if you are considering writing a book, come up with a new angle and a new idea that hasn?t been done yet.  

Simon with Alan Titchmarsh.

             ?Alan.. I asked him to look like I was saying something interesting?