Editor-in-Chief Alan Toogood is an experienced horticulturalist. Having trained at the Royal
Botanic Gardens Kew he went on to study at the Royal Horticultural Society's Garden at Wisley
Surrey. He works as a freelance writer and journalist writing for such magazines as Gardener's
Chronicle Amateur Gardening RHS's own magazine The Garden and Greenhouse of which he
was the Editor for many years. With a wealth of expertise behind them other contributors to
this book include the herb expert Jekka McVicar vice-president of the RHS Council and
president of the Herb Society known for her organic herb garden in Gloucestershire renowned
orchid expert Wilma Rittershausen John Mattock whose family boasts a 175-year history of rose
growing and recently retired executive vice-president of the RHS Jim Gardiner. The 2019
edition of the book has been revised by Julian Shaw a collaborator on several DK gardening
books including RHS A-Z of Garden Plants .
