Frances Tophill


Frances Ruth 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, Kent, and is one of three sisters. She studied for a bachelor's degree in horticulture with plantsmanship from the Scottish Agricultural College and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh which she completed in 2013.

Career

Tophill featured on ITV's Love Your Garden alongside Alan Titchmarsh, David Domoney, and Katie Rushworth, and in 2016 became a presenter on the BBC's Gardeners' World.
In June 2022, her first show-garden won a platinum medal and best in show at Gardeners' World Live at the NEC in Birmingham.
Her book, The Modern Gardener: A practical guide for creating a beautiful and creative garden, has been described as containing a "passionate, environmental debate" about gardening and gardeners.
Tophill works with the Royal Horticultural Society's Campaign for School Gardening to promote gardening to young people, and is a keen quilter and amateur potter.
She is a regular panellist on BBC Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time.

Selected publications

The First-Time Gardener. Kyle Books, 2015. The Container Gardener. Kyle Books, 2017. Container Gardener's Handbook. Companion House Books, 2018. Rewild Your Garden: Create a haven for birds, bees, and butterflies. Quercus Books, 2020. The Modern Gardener: A practical guide for creating a beautiful and creative garden. Octopus Publishing, 2022. A Year in a Small Garden: Creating a Beautiful Garden in Any Space. BBC Books - Ebury Publishing, 2024. ISBN 9781785948640