Hedge Man

This is a wonderful collection of the much loved John Cushnie's best writing for the "Daily Telegraph"'s "Gardening" supplement. It is journalism at its best, in which he achieved the perfect balance of horticulture and humour, good sense and fun. Cushnie was the master of the one liner, and pulls his readers into his articles with vigorous, fast-moving prose that is a joy to read. More than any other gardening writer today, Cushnie brings his subject alive - whether the finer points of garden design, the intricacies of planting up a rock garden, or the romance of growing climbers up a tree. He was highly opinionated, often contrary, always off-beat, but dispensed sound horticultural tips and advice with warmth and humour. When asked by Chris Evans on BBC Radio 2 to comment on hedges, John Cushnie answered: 'I love yew'. This mischievous response was typical of Cushnie - funny, quick witted and irreverent - and resulted in Evans nicknaming him 'The Hedge Man'.