Welbeck unearths Dowding's first children's gardening book

Welbeck Children’s Books has acquired No-Dig Children’s Gardening Book, the first book for children and families by Charles Dowding, illustrated by Kristyna Litten.

Laura Knowles, associate publisher, commissioned the book and struck a deal for world rights with the author. She worked with Gemma Farr, maternity cover associate publisher, to develop a gardening book to inspire families to get outside and grow things together. The book looks at creating a garden and has step-by-step activities, information about the science of soil and includes a planting guide for the year. 

"Gardening and growing things is so good for a child’s mental health and wellbeing," the synopsis reads. "No-dig doesn’t involve the heavy-lifting associated with other types of gardening. This makes it ideal for families to do together. The flowerbeds can be prepared and planted in a single day, which is perfect for limited attention spans and busy lives."

Farr said: "We really wanted to show families that you don’t need a huge plot of land to grow flowers, fruits and vegetables for your table, and you don’t need lots of experience. You just need a small space – whether that’s a back garden, or a balcony, or even a window box – and lots of enthusiasm! No-dig makes gardening accessible to children of all ages and abilities, and because it mimics nature, it is great for the environment too, locking in that all important carbon for the benefit of our climate.”

Dowding is a champion of no-dig organic growing and has been since 1983. His weed-free methods are about growing plants more easily, in less time, by understanding and working with natural processes. An established author of books for adult gardeners, this is his first book for children and families. He also writes for national and international magazines and appears on TV and radio including BBC "Gardeners’ World". 

“It’s been such a pleasure to work with Welbeck on this book, and also with the illustrator, whose imagination and skills are wonderful," he said. "[Kristyna Litten] conveys beautifully throughout the book, the simple methods I describe and their background in nature. At first, I was not sure about finding time to write this book. However, I somehow did, with their help. And I’m so glad we managed it because the interest on my social media channels, has already been phenomenal.”