I specialise in natural history, the environment, gardening and literary criticism. I’m a Guardian Country Diarist and a contributor to the anthology Women on Nature, edited by Katharine Norbury (May 2021). I also research and write academic papers on the life of the poet John Clare.
I write for Gardeners’ World Magazine and have contributed to other national magazines and journals such as BBC Wildlife , RHS The Garden, The English Garden, The John Clare Society Journal and The Clearing. I was delighted to be longlisted for the Spread the Word Life Writing Prize 2021.
I enjoy public speaking and recent events have included leading a creative non-fiction workshop on nature writing for the Sussex Wildlife Trust, and talks such as ‘Gardens in the Wider Landscape’, ‘Unusual Crops: The Good, The Bad and Achocha’ and ‘Reverend Niblock: Curate of Hitchin and Master of the Free School’. I’m happy to attend events in person and can also arrange to give talks on Zoom.
My qualifications include an MA in English Literature (with Distinction), Diploma in Creative Non-Fiction, Post Graduate Certificate in Education, Advanced Diploma in Garden Design and RHS Level 2: Certificate in Practical Horticulture, Certificate in the Principle of Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance (with Commendation).
If you’d like me to write for your publication or website, or to give a talk to your group, please click here or drop me an email at dogwooddays@yahoo.com
PUBLICATION LIST:
Gardeners’ World Magazine, August 2022, Ways to Avoid Waste
The Guardian, 11 July 2022, Country Diary: My dad and I, watching a hoopoe, finally
The Clearing, Little Toller, 5 June 2022, ‘Motherlode’
The Guardian, 6 May 2022, Country Diary: The sheer joy of watching sparrows move in with us
The Clearing, Little Toller, 2 March 2022, ‘Song of the Iris’
Gardeners’ World Magazine, Dec 2021, Homegrown Christmas
BBC Wildlife Magazine, September 2021, Review of Podcast Coffee with Conservationists
The Guardian, 13 August 2021, Country Diary: Lured by a love for elusive butterflies
RHS The Garden, July 2021, Plant Profile: Astilbes
John Clare Society Journal, 2021, ‘John Clare’s Contemporaries: The Anonymous Versifier’
The Guardian, 14 May 2021, Country Diary: Your eyes do not deceive you – this is a black squirrel
Women on Nature, ed. by Katharine Norbury, May 2021, ‘Snickets’
BBC Wildlife Magazine, April 2021, Review of Heathland
RHS The Garden, Jan 2020, Review of Orchard
Gardeners’ World Magazine, Jan 2021, Wildlife Project: How to Make Bird Food
Garden News Magazine, 5 Dec 2020, My Favourite Place (interview on my favourite place written by Naomi Slade)
The Guardian, 9 Oct 2020, Country Diary: An Exhalation in the Alder Carr
Smallwoods Magazine, Autumn 2020, Wild Child: Interview with Patrick Barkham
Gardeners’ World Magazine, Sept 2020, ‘Veg Seeds for Free’
Gardeners’ World Magazine, Aug 2020, ‘Little Garden Adventures’
RSPB Website, July 2020, ‘Adaptation Needed for Management of Future Flooding’
RSPB Website, July 2020, ‘Coastal Ecosystems: Blue Carbon Solutions to Climate Change’
The Guardian, 17 July 2020, Country Diary: A Toxic Beauty Waits Among the Nettles
Gardeners’ World Magazine, May 2020, ‘£10 Veg Challenge’
Gardeners’ World Magazine, May 2020, ‘Little Garden Adventures’
RSPB Website, Apr 2020, ‘Garden Peat Free This Easter’
Gardeners’ World Magazine, Feb 2020, ‘Save Our Hedgehogs’
RHS The Garden, Jan 2020, Review of Wild About Weeds
RHS The Garden, Dec 2019, ‘Taking Lessons from Red Kites’
RHS The Garden, Dec 2019, Review of The Garden Jungle
RSPB Website, Nov 2019, ‘Peatland: A Burning Issue’
RSPB Website, Nov 2019, ‘Woodland: A Nature-Based Solution to Climate Change’
The English Garden, Nov 2019, ‘Garden City Gem’
RSPB Website, July 2019, ‘Peatland: A Nature-Based Solution to Climate Change’
Garden Design Journal, July 2019, Review of A Nation in Bloom
John Clare Society Journal, 2019, ‘John Clare’s Contemporaries: The Shepherd, the Wheelwright and the Housemaid’
Freelance Gardening Editor: Gardeners’ World Magazine 2019-2020
Nic Wilson 