03/07/2026
It is proving to be a good month for new book publications and especially for two with some connection to Parcevall Hall Gardens. Many of you may well recall the name of Geoffrey Smith, professional gardener, writer, lecturer and of course a familiar face both 'on the box' and on radio, as presenter during the 1980's of BBC Television's 'Gardener's World' and a number of other BBC gardening series and programmes. Prior to this, between 1954 to 1974, Geoffrey Smith worked as Chief Superintendent during the development of Harlow Carr Gardens in Harrogate and it is mainly covering this period that his daughter, Caroline Smith, has written the most fascinating account of her times growing up and living at Harlow Carr in her newly published book, 'MY CHILDHOOD BACK GARDEN - The Early Years of RHS Harlow Carr'. So where is the connection to Parcevall you may well ask? The answer is that Sir William Milner, without whom there would be no Parcevall Hall Gardens today, was the second Honorary Director of the Northern Horticultural Society and its gardens at Harlow Carr, as well as being a close personal friend of Geoffrey Smith and his family. Indeed Sir William, as well as overseeing proceedings in Harlow Carr's development, organised donations of magnificent pieces of rock to be taken both from the Parcevall Estate, also other local landowners, and moved to Harlow Carr. There were also gifted plants, flowers, shrubs and many hybrids of Sir William's own raising. I can highly recommend Caroline Smith's book. It is really well written, has many photographs that are unseen before and is full of local interest. Chapter 12 will make particularly interesting reading to members of this page as it features Sir William Milner and his connection to Harlow Carr.
'MY CHILDHOOD BACK GARDEN - The Early Years of RHS Harlow Carr is available from Amazon in Paperback at £14.99 and Hardcover at £18.99.
Our next book is written by good friend of Parcevall Hall Gardens, the author Maria Malone. 'Poison and Peacocks in the Dales' is the second in the Wren & Wilson crime series, following on from the successful 'A Deadly Affair in the Dales'. Again, set in the Dales it follows Sergeant Ali Wren and her springer spaniel police dog Wilson, as they investigate a tangled web of jealousies, betrayals, and long-held grudges that reach deep into the heart of the community. Like the first in the series I really enjoyed this book and its publication is perfectly timed to pop a copy into a bag for holiday reading, which is exactly what I did!
'Poison and Peacocks in the Dales' is also available from Amazon priced £9.99.
Finally, Parcevall Hall Gardens has a nice image alongside a snippet of editorial in the July issue of Yorkshire Life magazine where, turning over the page, you will also find a half page advertising the gardens. Enjoy your summer, have safe travels if you are going away, and we look forward to seeing you at Parcevall again soon.
