The Pottery Gardener Book Review

I began my working life in the Potteries area of Stoke on Trent, so that part of the world has always meant a great deal to me. Years later, I was delighted to discover that Arthur Parkinson had created a garden at the Emma Bridgewater Pottery in Stoke — a place I’ve long admired for its celebration of British craft.

Back in 2018, Arthur penned a heartfelt book celebrating two of his enduring passions—hens and flowers—and the quiet joy of weaving them into the industrial rhythm of the pottery, all while cultivating a garden there. A recent visit to the factory and its garden, brought his story vividly to life, and it’s inspired me to return to the book—The Pottery Gardener by Arthur Parkinson - and to share my thoughts about it with you here.

Arthur grew up in the North of England, surrounded from an early age by strong, nurturing women who inspired and encouraged his love of poultry and plants. It was his mother and grandmothers who first introduced him to the joys of the garden passing on their knowledge with care and enthusiasm. His love of poultry began with childhood hours spent watching hens at nearby allotments and on farm holidays in the Peak District.

As he grew older, his interests were further shaped by the influential works of plantswoman Sarah Raven, whose vibrant approach to gardening captured his imagination. Equally formative were his childhood visits to Chatsworth House, where the Duchess of Devonshire’s renowned poultry collection left a lasting impression.

Arthur opens the book with memories of this childhood shaped by nature, leading to a journey and commission in Stoke on Trent : creating a garden for The Emma Bridgewater Pottery.

The book begins by detailing how Arthur set about creating his garden, which he describes as essentially container gardening on a grand scale. He installed large raised beds and used a variety of containers, including troughs and dolly tub-style planters of different sizes and shapes. Arthur places strong emphasis on the care of the garden’s most vital component — the soil — and offers in-depth guidance on how to maintain its health and fertility.

The book then explores the rhythm of the garden through its three main seasons. Spring bursts into life with wallflowers and tulips, followed by the rich tapestry of Summer, featuring alliums, dahlias, and roses. In Autumn, the garden reaches a dramatic finale with a spectacular pumpkin display. Arthur favours bold, jewel-like colours throughout, creating a vibrant and theatrical atmosphere. Hens roam freely around the gravel paths adding a typicallly Arthur touch.

The book is wonderful and feels incredibly real, largely because of the way Arthur writes—with genuine heart and passion for his work. He takes the time to describe many of the plants he chose for the garden in vivid detail, offering tips on how to care for them, grow them, and nurture them. He also shares his favourite varieties and colours, making you feel both informed and inspired. By the end of the book, I felt a garden like this was more than achievable myself.

Arthur has a real flair for dramatic, architectural plants—the kind that make a bold statement and instantly catch the eye. They're not what I'd usually choose for my own garden, but the way he talks about them, with such passion and clarity, convinced me to give them a try.

I’ve decided to experiment with globe artichokes, cardoons, and maybe even some ornamental grasses—plants he uses to great effect. The book is filled with beautiful images of these and other plants, as well as glimpses of his chickens, all photographed by Arthur himself.

The book takes you through each season with a comprehensive checklist of tasks to tackle and when to do them. Arthur is generous with his knowledge, sharing his tried-and-tested methods to help you get the best out of each season’s planting. He also includes profiles of some of his favourite seasonal plants, paired with gorgeous photographs that truly inspire. His enthusiasm is infectious and made me want to put some of his ideas into practice in my own garden straight away.

My favourite ideas from the book include some really unusual and striking sunflowers—Valentine, Vanilla Ice, and Claret—which add a fresh twist to the typical sunflower palette. I was also drawn to the wide variety of dahlias, with Mel’s Marmalade standing out for me. It paired beautifully with the autumn pumpkin display that’s both described and photographed in the book.

I also loved the section on tulips—both the planting ideas and Arthur’s beautiful photography. He goes for deep, jewel-toned varieties like Queen of the Night, Chato, Brown Sugar, Ballerina, and Jan Reus, which really look spectacular together. Teamed with wallflowers like Sunset Purple and Sunset Pink, the combinations are stunning. Whether they’re planted in raised beds or layered as bulb lasagnes in galvanised dustbins and troughs, they look completely at home in the pottery garden’s industrial setting.

Another thing I really love about the book is how seamlessly the garden connects to the pottery made and sold on-site. So many of Emma Bridgewater’s designs feature flowers and animals, and Arthur brings that to life beautifully—cutting blooms from the garden and displaying them in vases and flower pots from the collection, often choosing pieces that feature his much-loved hens.

It’s wonderful to see all these threads—the factory, the pottery, the hens, Arthur’s life, and the garden—woven together into something that feels so personal and full of character.  It’s very subtly and cleverly done, and I get the sense that Arthur has a natural instinct for pulling all these elements together—almost without even thinking about it.

Arthur left the factory in 2019, and as I write this in the summer of 2025, the garden he created is still very much alive. I’ve visited the factory many times over the years, and the garden continues to be lovingly cared for, bringing joy to everyone who stops by. My most recent visit was in summer, but now that I’ve reread the book, I’ll definitely be returning in spring and autumn to catch the tulips and pumpkins at their best. Arthur may have moved on, but his heart, soul, and ideas are still deeply rooted in the place.

If you get the chance, I’d really encourage you to visit the factory and garden yourself—and, of course, to read the book. It’s full of inspiration, practical ideas, and Arthur’s unmistakable passion for growing. Whether you have a large plot or just a few pots, there’s something in it for everyone.

Guineveres Garden | Garden Writer