For anyone seeking some timely Christmas present inspiration, head on over to York Gate in Leeds on Friday 2 December when the eminent Yorkshire-based garden designer Alistair Baldwin will join Clive Nichols, one of the world’s leading garden photographers, to sign copies of the new book, Brilliant English Gardens.

This beautiful hardback book features 27 of England’s most stunning gardens and is guaranteed to appeal to anyone with either an active interest in garden design or who perhaps simply prefers to read about it from the comfort of their armchair. 

]The book examines the work of some of the country’s finest garden designers, including Alistair Baldwin’s work at Wynyard Hall in County Durham where he was appointed to work on its Rose Garden by owner Sir John Hall.

This exclusive book signing will take place on Friday 2 December from 11:30am to 1:30pm in the gift shop at York Gate, a magical one-acre garden owned and managed by Perennial - the UK’s only charity helping people who work with plants, trees, flowers and grass. Alistair, a garden designer with a world-class portfolio, is no stranger to York Gate having designed Sybil’s Garden, the new arrival experience and plant sales area, and the Mediterranean garden overlooked by the café.

Alistair launched the Richmond-based landscape and architectural design consultancy AWB Associates 15 years ago.  Last year he also opened the Yorkshire School of Garden Design, based at Harewood House near Leeds, specifically to train designers to work within northern landscapes.

The School offers a professional Diploma in Garden Design as well as a range of short courses aimed at garden design enthusiasts and those wanting to learn more about the art, from landscaping to planting.

“For my work to be recognised by such a renowned garden photographer is a huge privilege,” said Alistair. “I thoroughly enjoyed working on Wynyard Hall’s garden design which incorporated colonnaded walks reminiscent of the cloistered gardens of ancient Greece and Rome. It was a wonderful project and I would like to extend my thanks to Clive for understanding our masterplan for this space and acknowledging this wonderful rose garden in the book.”