Arthur Parkinson Books

A stunning gardening book full of inspiration, tips and advice

Focusing on the joys of keeping chickens, this memoir shares Arthur Parkinson's unique childhood experience in an ex-mining town, where his passion for hens earned him the nickname 'Chicken Boy.' The narrative highlights how raising chickens provided solace and a sense of connection to family and nature, serving as a remedy for mental and physical challenges. Accompanied by Parkinson's charming watercolors and photographs, the book offers a heartfelt exploration of the rewards of nurturing these animals and the comfort they bring.

An inspirational companion to The Flower Yard, a Sunday Times bestseller, arranged seasonally, with tips, hints and advice on growing flamboyant flowers sustainably in containers.

'I am a toddler the first time I meet a chicken, and we are equal in size and height. The hen has tiny eyelashes, a strawberry-jam face and a voice of purring clucks. I sense a happy spirit of inquisitiveness and smile in fascination. From that moment on, I will always love the company of chickens. I have found my tribe' Most of us want a dog, or a cat, or a pony when we are young - for Arthur Parkinson, it was always hens. Growing up in an ex-mining town in Nottinghamshire, the other kids in the playground called him 'Chicken Boy'. But the quiet fulfilment of keeping hens became his sanctuary, a tonic for mental and physical health, a connection with his family and the natural world. From the local allotments and his nan's back garden, to Chatsworth and an unlikely friendship with the late Duchess of Devonshire, a famous hen-keeper, Chicken Boy tells the story of the love and satisfaction to be found in caring for living things. Illustrated with Arthur's own characterful watercolours and photographs of his 'girls', and laden with practical hen-keeping tips, gardening advice and introductions to common, rare and pure breeds, Chicken Boy is a one-of-a-kind memoir of a life in nature.

You may have no more than a few feet of space, and room for only a few large containers, but what exciting and fabulous pots these can be. Arthur Parkinson has no flowerbeds, no lawn, no shed and no greenhouse, but has created a lush, flamboyant oasis that throughout the year is an ever-changing floral tapestry of sparkling seed heads, clutching tendrils, arching fronds and flowering stems. Cultivating a cottage-garden space, however small, creates an island against the blight of city life. Flowers provide a beautry that cannot be bought, rewarding us visually and sensually, nurturing our senses and souls. There are real environmental benefits too. Views of dustbins, cars, neighbours' antics and the sound of traffic can, quite literally, be grown over by a richly coloured, bee-filled, living Eden. 'One day soon, I bet that young fella will be the next Monty Don or Alan Titchmarsh.' - Prue Leith.