Gardening magazine celebrates 140th anniversary

Amateur Gardening magazine has announced it is back in its refreshed, fortnightly format.

The 11th May issue of Amateur Gardening magazine (in shops from Tuesday 7th May) sees a milestone for one of the world’s oldest gardening magazines. Since re-launching last November, the gardening magazine says it is going from strength-to-strength with environmental gardening journalist and entrepreneurial editor, Kim Stoddart at the helm.

Launched on the 3rd May 1884, Amateur Gardening says it has been supporting and encouraging families of gardeners for generations, giving its readers helpful, practical advice, while celebrating the simple, yet profound pleasures of gardening.

This bumper birthday issue, which the publisher says includes more content and three packets of free seed worth £8.50, features expert contributors old and new and looks to the gardening past for inspiration for a more resilient and sustainable future for us all. Amateur Gardening says some of the highlights include:

• Former AG deputy editor Alan Titchmarsh with a trip down memory lane special
• Toby Buckland - the TV presenter, and all-round national treasure returns to the AG family fold
• Horticulture Week magazine editor, Matthew Appleby writes about gardening trends through the ages

Plus, the usual band of AG expert contributors including Ruth Hayes, Bob Flowerdew, Graham Clarke, Anne Swithinbank, Lucy Chamberlain, Val Bourne, Sue Bradley, Michael Perry, Beth Chatto Gardens, John Negus, Michael Palmer, Andrew Oldham and Adam Kirtland, Liz Zorab, Chris Collins and Garden Organic.

Editor Kim Stoddart explains: “The flurry of media attention that the closure of this national gardening gem of a magazine generated in September last year helped capture the attention of Kelsey Media who stepped in to save it. I was thrilled and honoured to be chosen as the editor to take AG forward and to help ensure the magazine remains as relevant to gardeners today as it was 140 years ago. Gardening styles, attitudes and concerns may be very different now to what they were in 1884, but AG’s mission remains unchanged, to make gardening more rewarding and enjoyable for all its readers. The spirit of AG continues rejuvenated, working towards a brighter green future for us all, together.”

Former deputy editor Alan Titchmarsh MBE said: “I was relieved and delighted when 'AG', as we always called it, was saved from extinction. I had happy years there, becoming deputy editor in 1978, and have always rated the quality of the contributors and the hands-on practicality of its advice. Congratulations on your 140th birthday 'AG' from an old and devoted admirer.”