There are times when we simply wish to read about our hobby and not be badgered by advice. If you enjoy reading about plants whether or not you can grow them, or enjoy discovering gardens you may never visit and could never hope to match, or are keen to learn how people gardened in the past and what they have contributed to our gardens today, then this is the book for you. It includes sections on the great gardeners in history; extraordinary and surprising plants; remarkable gardens around the world; key gardening moments in history; the wildlife in our gardens; and, things for the plant lover to do indoors, and other 'this and that' trivia, statistics and fascinating things you never knew, all illustrated with charming line drawings.

The perfect gift and as the title says, the perfect bedside read for a nation of gardeners.

The Dig For Victory campaign to encourage people to grow their own food began in Britain in September 1940. This was the government's plan to avert hunger in the event of the war lasting more than a few months. Formal gardens, lawns and sports pitches were transformed into makeshift allotments.The campaign was launched by the first media gardening celebrity Mr Middleton on the BBC Home Service.

These popular broadcasts, with around 3.5 million listeners, were published for the first time in 1942. This new edition of "Digging For Victory" brings Mr Middleton's pearls of wisdom to a new generation of gardeners who are increasingly interested in growing their own food. It is a timely publication in light of the recent surge in allotment owners.This beautifully designed book takes the reader through the seasons offering helpful gardening tips.

Charming, chatty and immensely readable, "Digging For Victory" is the perfect book for all gardening fans.Rediscover the famous wartime gardening broadcasts by the original gardening media celebrity. This book taps into the thriving market for books on allotments and growing your own produce; there are 300,000 allotments in the UK. WWII nostalgia books continue to be successful.

"Eating for Victory" [978-1843172642] sold 12,000 copies. Recent BBC series "Grow Your Own Veg" was hugely popular with viewers. It is beautifully designed and full of clever gardening tips.

It is a perfect nostalgic impulse buy for xmas '08.

From the spread of the railways and flight to the cities in the early nineteenth century, through to the floods and global warming on the 21st century, this is a timely reminder of just how much the British countryside has endured over the last 200 years. It includes pieces on subjects as varied as windfarms to city farms, mass trespasses and the rise of the rambler through to the creation of English vineyards and the return of the red kite. This poignant collection shows how the countryside adapts to everything we throw at it, yet still remains our most valuable and beautiful resource.

For too many of us the weekend has become just another overcrowded couple of days dominated by duties, traffic jams, hassle and expense as we dash from supermarket to superstore catching up with the weeks chores. But it doesnt have to be this way. Elspeth Thompsons original and inspiring book shows we can reclaim the weekend by re-charging our batteries and relationships through enjoying the simple pleasures in life.

From watching the sunset and the stars, making chutney and writing proper letters to borrowing a dog, going to dance classes and using the internet inventively, The Wonderful Weekend Book is packed with ideas that will help restore the balance in our lives, reconnect us to the seasons, and quite literally not cost the earth.