With the world in lockdown there are a few leisure activities that have seen a sudden surge in interest.

Among these are reading and gardening – two simple distractions that can both calm the mind and enrich the brain.

Gardening is a particularly beneficial activity, allowing you to escape into a world of nature, getting a lungful of air in the process and instilling a sense of achievement at the end of each session.

In this round-up we’ve picked out some valuable reading material that will help to inspire or improve your gardening, catering for a wide range of needs from the DIYer who likes a building project to get stuck into to those whose garden consists of no more than a window box.

There are plenty of new books among these titles, and we’ve also thrown in a few old classics for good measure, so if you find yourself with some time on your hands, and are looking for an escape from life’s new routines, then there should be something here for you.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.

‘The Garden Jungle by Dave Goulson’, published by Vintage Publishing This book takes a closer look at the wildlife that inhabits our gardens, delving into the soil and among the leaves and flowers to celebrate the creatures that otherwise receive little attention but are vital for the wellbeing of our planet. Author Dave Goulson, professor of biology at Sussex University, runs through the intricacies of your garden’s ecosystem with light hearted enthusiasm that will have you looking at earwigs, woodlice and hoverflies with new admiration.

Buy now £ 8.49 , Waterstones {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} £{{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} ‘Wild About Weeds’ by Jack Wallington, published by Laurence Here’s a concept we are more than happy to embrace. Wild About Weeds encourages gardeners to put down the weeding fork and embrace a gentle rewilding of our gardens and allotments by incorporating weeds (or rebel plants, as Jack describes them) into our planting schemes. As well as featuring more than 50 detailed weed profiles, this book also contains interviews and hot weed-taming tips from acclaimed horticulturists. It’s also comforting to see that not all weeds should be considered our friends – we are happy to see allotment menaces ground elder, nags tail and bindweed on the “naughty” list, with some good tips on how to suppress them. Wild About Weeds will make you look at your garden in a whole new light. Buy now £ 14.99 , Amazon {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} £{{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} ‘Build a Better Vegetable Garden’ by Joyce Russell and Ben Russell, published by Frances Lincoln For anyone who fancies flexing their saw and revving up their drill, this DIY book is well worth a place on your shelf. It contains 30 practical projects, including constructing your own simple cloche and building a raised bed to the more niche carrot fly protector. Joyce Russell’s clear and concise instructions are made even easier to follow with Ben Russell’s detailed photography, helping to make each construction project as effortless as possible.

Buy now £ 10.99 , Blackwell’s {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} £{{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} ‘Diary of a Modern Country Gardener’ by Tamsin Westhorpe, published by Orphans Publishing Penned by acclaimed horticultural journalist and lecturer, Tamsin Westhorpe, this book chronicles the trials and tribulations that come with taking charge of Stockton Bury, a four-acre open garden at the heart of her family's working farm. Archive pictures and lush plant photos help paint a bucolic picture of a year spent toiling the soil, while timely gardening tips are interspersed throughout. Diary of a Modern Country Gardener is written with passion, wit and gentle humour. Resist the temptation to race through this book in one sitting – much like Tamsin’s beloved Stockton Bury, this is one to meander through and savour. Buy now £ 20 , Foyles {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} £{{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} ‘The Gardener’s Companion to Medicinal Plants’ by Kew Experts, published by Frances Lincoln Just flicking through this stunningly illustrated and beautifully presented book will be enough to take your mind away from the stresses of the day; pay closer attention and you’ll start to discover how plants have benefited mankind for centuries. Besides showing some of the more miraculous medicinal uses of plants, there are also recipes you can make yourself, from chickweed cream for itchy skin to a relaxing lavender pillow – which is something we could all benefit from right now. Buy now £ 10.99 , Blackwell’s {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} £{{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} ‘Vegetable Growing Month by Month’ by John Harrison, published by Little Brown Book Group This book may seem a bit more dated than its 2008 release might suggest, with pages of text only broken up by occasional inky black illustrations, but dig around and you’ll find advice on pretty much every aspect of veg growing. There’s a simple logic in the way the author details the ground work involved, from prepping your patch to dealing with weeds and watering, and lots of tips and wisdom that will get your veg plants thriving.

Buy now £ 8.99 , Waterstones {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} £{{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} ‘How to Get Kids Gardening’ by Lee Connelly, published by JaJaJa Books Lee Connelly (aka The Skinny Jean Gardener) is a popular YouTuber and former Blue Peter gardener whose cheeky bants and enthusiasm is a big hit with the kids. That enthusiasm translates perfectly to his first book, which is loaded with practical ideas to turn gardening into fun family time. Upcycle bottles into space-saving topsy-turvey tomato planters, learn how to attract wildlife to your patch, and get messy making seed balls – your garden will soon become the best playground for miles around.

Buy now £ 12.99 , Amazon {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} £{{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} ‘Small Garden’ by John Brookes, published by DK If your gardening ambitions stretch beyond simply deciding what to grow and you’re considering giving your outdoor space a design overhaul then John Brookes’ books are the place to start. His easy to follow ideas for structure and design are explained with clear photography and illustrations, with practical advice on how to create some of the hard landscaping elements such as walls and paving. The detailed planting schemes cater for all types of garden and taste.

Buy now £ 4.72 , Amazon {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} £{{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} ‘RHS Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers’ by Christopher Brickell, published by DK If you’re going to get to know your garden better, then an encyclopedia of plants will come in handy, and they don’t get much more thorough than this best-selling book. It features more than 8,000 plants and 4,000 photographs organised by colour, size and type, and delivers knowledge in spades from the experts at the RHS, laid out in an easily accessible and instructive format. Buy now £ 34.99 , NHBS {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} £{{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} ‘The Edible Balcony by Alex Mitchell’, published by Octopus This is grow-it-yourself book is aimed at the urban dweller where lawns, borders and veg patches are substituted for roof terraces, balconies and pots. Alex Mitchell has crammed a wealth of inspiration into her book with tips and tricks on how to grow salads in guttering and tomatoes in a colander. Follow her advice and your balcony, flat or apartment will not only provide you with tasty fresh food but will also add colour and life to your home. Buy now £ 15.59 , WHSmith {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} £{{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}}

The verdict: Gardening books There are some great practical books in this list but for inspirational reading material Dave Goulson’s The Garden Jungle is a must read for all budding gardeners.

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