{{Short description|British horticulturalist and television presenter}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use British English |date=May 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = Frances Tophill | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = Deal, Kent | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | education = | alma_mater = Scotland's Rural College | occupation = Gardener, conservationist, sustainability campaigner, television presenter and gardening writer | title = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | known_for = Appearances on ''Love Your Garden'' and ''Gardeners' World'' | boards = | spouse = | children = | parents = | relations = | website = }} '''Frances Tophill''' is a British horticulturist, author, and television presenter known for her contributions to ''Love Your Garden'' and ''Gardeners' World''. She has written five books.
== Early life== Tophill was born in Deal,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com/meet-the-experts/frances-tophill|title = Meet the Experts}}</ref> Kent, and is one of three sisters.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/lifestyle/a39312037/frances-tophill-home-interview/ | title=My Happy Home: Frances Tophill | date=15 March 2022|website=House Beautiful}}</ref> She did a BTEC in jewellery design, but was not interested in jewellery, and, aged 19, decided she wanted to be a gardener.<ref name="Tel">{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Hayley |title=The 'naughty' TV gardener designing a Chelsea showstopper for the King and David Beckham |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/chelsea-flower-show/frances-tophill-tv-gardener-king-charles-david-beckham |access-date=17 May 2026 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=11 May 2026}}</ref> She did an apprenticeship at the garden at The Salutation, Sandwich.<ref name="Tel"/> She went on a degree in horticulture with plantsmanship from the Scottish Agricultural College and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, finishing in 2013.<ref name="hillier.co.uk">{{cite web | url=https://www.hillier.co.uk/garden-and-home-ideas/my-most-loved-shrubs-with-frances-tophill/ | title=My Most-Loved Shrubs with Frances Tophill |publisher=Hillier Garden Centres }}</ref>
==Career== In 2011, Tophill auditioned as a presenter on ITV's ''Love Your Garden'', and was successful.<ref name="Tel"/> In 2016, she became a presenter on the BBC's ''Gardeners' World''.<ref>{{cite web|title=New faces at BBC Gardeners' World|url=http://www.hortweek.com/new-faces-bbc-gardeners-world/ornamentals/article/1389569|publisher=}}</ref>
In June 2022, her first show-garden won a platinum medal and best in show at Gardeners' World Live at the NEC in Birmingham.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hortweek.com/frances-tophill-wins-bbc-gardeners-world-live/landscape/article/1789931 | title=Frances Tophill wins at BBC Gardeners' World Live }}</ref> It showed a post-apocalyptic garden.<ref name="Tel"/>
Her book, ''The Modern Gardener: A practical guide for creating a beautiful and creative garden'' (Octopus Publishing, 2022), has been described as containing a "passionate, environmental debate" about gardening and gardeners.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gardensillustrated.com/garden-equipment/gardening-books/modern-gardener-tophill-review/ | title=The Modern Gardener by Frances Tophill – book review | date=12 April 2022 }}</ref>
Tophill works with the Royal Horticultural Society's Campaign for School Gardening to promote gardening to young people.<ref name="hillier.co.uk"/>
She is a regular panellist on BBC Radio 4's ''Gardeners' Question Time''.<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002htd6</ref>
==Personal life==
Tophill lives in Devon.<ref name="Tel"/> She is a quilter and amateur ceramicist.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/lifestyle/a39312037/frances-tophill-home-interview/ | title=My Happy Home: Frances Tophill| first=Lisa|last=Joyner|work=HouseBeautiful|date=15 March 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com/spring-fair/frances-tophill/ | title=Frances Tophill }}</ref>
==Books== * ''The First-Time Gardener''. Kyle Books, 2015 * ''The Container Gardener''. Kyle Books, 2017, {{ISBN|978-0857833808}} * ''Container Gardener's Handbook''. Companion House Books, 2018, {{ISBN|978-0857832542}} * ''Rewild Your Garden: Create a haven for birds, bees, and butterflies''. Quercus Books, 2020, {{ISBN|978-1529410259}} * ''The Modern Gardener: A practical guide for creating a beautiful and creative garden''. Octopus Publishing, 2022, {{ISBN|978-0857839435}} * ''A Year in a Small Garden: Creating a Beautiful Garden in Any Space.'' BBC Books - Ebury Publishing, 2024, {{ISBN|9781785948640}}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *https://www.gardenersunearthed.com/2020/01/frances-tophill.html {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tophill, Frances}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:British gardeners Category:English television presenters Category:Women horticulturists and gardeners Category:Television personalities from Kent Category:Alumni of Scotland's Rural College Category:People from Deal, Kent Category:British women television presenters Category:Women non-fiction writers
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