Matthew Appleby Books

How to be a Cricket Fan: A Life in 50 Artefacts From WG to Wisden is a unique, nostalgic take on supporting the greatest sport, pre-internet. This relatable, universal story records how one cricketing obsessive encounters players from WG Grace to Ben Stokes, plus plenty of characters you're unlikely to have come across. With running themes of Wisden, sportsman's dinners and otterhounds, the book's hero meets Ian Botham and Linda Lusardi on the A6, drinks red wine while showing Fred Trueman his priceless collection and drives his family mad by taking them on summer holidays to buy John Arlott's old books. The colourful images on cigarette cards and the yellow linen cover of Wisden succoured a wartime evacuee who spent a lifetime trying to bring back those memories. After facing ruin, his passion culminated in him finding happiness in a dream career. This is the story of an English eccentric's journey from cricketing backwaters to entertaining the stars and becoming a leading authority on the game.

A garden can be a place for discovery, creativity and fun, and a space that encourages children to enjoy and engage with the natural world. Through 52 exciting family projects, this book inspires parents and their children to play and learn in the garden, with activities including nature trails, cooking, crafting and growing plants and vegetables. Ex-primary teacher Matthew Appleby (author of The Allotment Planner, 2013) is the expert voice behind the book. Appleby has two sons and has tapped into his first-hand experience of parenting and teaching to devise these seasonal projects for every week of the year. The Children's Garden is the perfect companion for families looking to discover the magic and adventure their gardens have to offer.

This book gives you the tools to grow without harming the planet and animals, and explains why moving beyond organics towards super organic vegan gardening is going to be the next big craze.