Alan Buckingham

Alan Buckingham is a freelance writer, editor, gardener and photographer. He has many years' experience in illustrated publishing, both as an editor and as an author, and has worked on countless information books, magazines, and websites. In recent years he has written chiefly about gardening and photography, his two main interests. "Allotment Month by Month" and "Grow Fruit" are illustrated with many of his own pictures. He is on Instagram as @allotmentdoctor.

Alan is a long-time plot-holder on the prestigious Royal Paddocks Allotments near Hampton Court Palace, south-west London. Every summer he proves himself incapable of heeding his own advice and consequently grows far more fruit and vegetables than he and his family could ever hope to eat. Should he ever be given the opportunity to have his time again, he would happily swap his career in publishing for one as a head gardener.