Abigail Whyte
Writer
Abigail is a freelance writer and editor based in Hereford. She started her journalism career as editorial assistant for BBC Countryfile Magazine, then she joined vintage lifestyle magazine Pretty Nostalgic as features editor, writing and features about sustainable living. She is now deputy editor of Ernest, a journal for enquiring minds. Abigail is a keen hiker, runner, forager, wild-swimmer and stand-up paddle boarder who cares passionately about her home river – the River Wye. abigailwhyte.com
Recent articles by Abigail Whyte
What is the Big Butterfly Count and how can you take part
The Big Butterfly Count takes place 18 July to 10 August 2025. Read our guide to how you can take part in this important citizen science project, and how to attract more butterflies to your garden
The best lavender farms to visit for Instagram-worthy shots and heady scents of summer
Swathes of blue and purple as far as the eye can see – we recommend the best lavender farms to visit for a perfect summer day out
The best places to pick your own sunflowers near you
Fancy picking some sunny blooms to brighten up your home? Here's our selection of the best PYO sunflower farms you can visit this summer
Beautiful and best Christmas wreaths for your front door in 2024
Christmas truly begins when we deck the halls with evergreen boughs, not forgetting a beautiful Christmas wreath for the front door
Halloween | Spooky days out in gardens
Discover creepy plants, follow haunted trails and carve pumpkins at one of these Halloween events in a garden near you
When is the official first day of autumn?
When autumn starts is different depending on whether you follow the astronomical or meteorological approach to the seasons. Here we answer the question what is the first day of autumn in 2024?
The best campsites with beautiful gardens
From Victorian walled gardens to shaded clearings among wildflowers, we recommend the best campsites in the UK with beautiful gardens to get lost in
The best places to pick your own flowers
Now is the season for filling your vases with freshly cut flowers to brighten the home. We recommend the best flower farms and gardens in the UK that invite you to pick your own blooms.
Wondering what those frothy blobs on your plants are? Here's exactly what it is and whether you need to be worried
Have you noticed white frothy blobs on your plants in late spring and summer and wondered what it is? Chances are its cuckoo spit, the bubbly cocoon of the spittlebug.
Meet Beth Al Rikabi, the chef who forages her ingredients from the garden and beyond
Beth Al Rikabi is your guide to wild edible plants you can find in the garden, plus four foraging recipes for you to try, including dandelion flower honey and elderflower cordial
How to collect rainwater
With horticulturalists advising to adapt our gardens for hotter, drier conditions in summer, and wetter, warmer conditions in winter, many gardeners are looking for ways to harvest rainwater when the heavens open. Here's our guide to collecting and storing rainwater for keeping the garden healthy during dry spells.
Beautiful royal gardens
From wildflower meadows to Islamic-inspired water gardens, the gardens of royal residences can provide places of calm, beauty and inspiration. We recommend the best royal gardens to visit in the UK
Gardens to visit in Sussex
Blessed with historic country estates and wildflower-covered chalky hills, Sussex is a fine county for exploring gardens. Here's our pick of the best.
The best gardens in London to visit this year
Even in the big city you can find oases of calm and beauty – here's our pick of the best gardens to visit in London
Gardens to visit in Wales
From vibrant daffodil displays to a Georgian walled garden, we recommend the best gardens to visit in Wales
Modern small garden ideas
Whether you want minimalist design, Japanese elegance or an intimate green retreat, you’ll find lots of inspiration for modern small gardens in our expert guides below. Photograph Alister Thorpe
Being a garden volunteer: how and where to do it
Find a great garden volunteering opportunity near you or inspiration to get you started on your hunt.
Wind spinners: the best wind sculptures for ambience and movement in your garden
Wind spinners are the perfect garden ornament, adding movement, colour and ambience to your outside space. Here's our pick of the best wind spinners for your garden and how to look after these dazzling kinetic sculptures
Centaureas: the best varieties to grow and how to care for
Centaureas are extremely easy to grow and can fill a garden with colour all summer long. Nursery owner Martin Blow shares advice on how to grow centaureas, where to plant and when to cut it back. Photographs Annaïck Guitteny
Gardens to visit in Kent
Known as the ‘garden of England’, Kent boasts some of the finest gardens in the country. Here’s our guide to the best gardens to visit in Kent.
Gardens to visit in Cornwall
Blessed with mild weather and lush, coastal valleys, Cornwall boasts some of the most beautiful gardens in the UK. Here's our guide to the best gardens to visit in Cornwall.
Gardens to visit in Dorset
From a garden with its own microclimate to a water garden filled with water lilies, here's our pick of the best gardens to visit in Dorset.
Gardens to visit in Devon
A land of lush valleys and gentle rolling hills, Devon is blessed with some of the most inspiring gardens in the UK. Here's our pick of best gardens to visit in Devon.
Gardens to visit in Surrey
With an abundance of green spaces just outside London, Surrey is blessed with a variety of inspiring gardens to visit. Here's our pick of the best gardens in Surrey.