From gardening to good grannies (From Gazette Series)

From gardening to good grannies

AFTER writing expert gardening books for 14 years, Wotton-under-Edge author Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall made the risky decision to change direction - but it seems to have paid off. Gazette reporter Liza-Jane Gillespie went to meet the top-selling author to ask what does grandparenting and gardening have in common?

THE Good Granny Guide hit the bookshelves three weeks ago and last weekend it officially took its place at number nine in the top ten of the highest selling non-fiction book list.

The book, which offers advice on be being a grandmother, took two years to complete but author Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall did not rely on her own experiences alone to write it. During the two years she spoke to over 200 grandmothers.

She told the Gazette: "The book is much more than my opinion.

"I did a lot of research to gather lots of people's thoughts and reminiscences."

Mrs Fearnley-Whittingstall has been a grandmother herself for six years and has five grandchildren; Chloe, 8, Max and Oscar, both 6, Guy, 3 and Freddie, 2.

She said: "Being a grandmother can be very rewarding on both sides of the relationship.

"The difficulty and where people need the advice is when dealing with the other adults - the parents of your grandchildren."

As well as talking with grandmothers, Mrs Fearnley-Whittingstall also surveyed mothers to see what they wanted from grandparents.

She said: "They all seemed to be in agreement that grannies should not offer advice unless asked.

"This I think comes from the culture that you can get everything you want out of a book.

"When parents have babies they buy child care books, but I think there are too many of these books making it confusing for them.

"Parents are turning to books rather than going by their own instincts."

It is this self-help book culture that Mrs Fearnley-Whittingstall blames for the tenuous relationship that can build between mother and child over parenting techniques used with grandchildren.

She said: "Childcare methods have changed from one generation to the next.

"I used to use talcum powder when I changed a baby's nappy. "These days experts say you shouldn't do that because it can get into the baby's lungs and cause all sort of problems."

Having said that though, Mrs Fearnley-Whittingstall enjoys a healthy relationship with both her daughter Sophy (CORR) and daughter-in-law Marie and spends a lot of time entertaining her grandchildren in her much-loved garden at her Wotton-under-Edge home.

Mrs Fearnley-Whittingstall, who has lived in the town for 21 years with her husband Robert, said of Wotton: "It is exactly the right size for a community.

"Everyone knows everyone and there is always a familiar face."

The couple moved to the West Country from London not long after marrying 43 years ago.

Mrs Fearnley-Whittingstall said: "I spent many of my childhood holidays in Wiltshire staying with my grandparents.

"I used to help them with their garden.

"My garden here in Gloucestershire reminds me very much of my own childhood experiences.

"I hope I pass some of my passion for gardening on to my grandchildren like my grandparents did to me."

The seclusion of a Cotswold home seems to suit Mrs Fearnley-Whittingstall who, despite the media interest in her new book, has a dislike for television.

She said: "I must confess I am camera shy.

"I have appeared on television several time because I used to enter gardens into the Chelsea Flower Show but I didn't really like it. I much prefer radio."

Perhaps this is why she enjoys writing so much.

She said: "I get a great pleasure out of writing. I am very happy doing it."

Mrs Fearnley-Whittingstall told the Gazette she has already started on a new book but is keeping details under wraps for now.

However, she did reveal it would not be a gardening book.