What a lovely sunny Saturday afternoon we had with the amazing Caroline Quentin talking about her beautiful book, Drawn to Nature. I don’t think we’ve ever had so many spontaneous rounds of applause for an author mid-event – whether for her gardening tips, acting tales, life lessons or exciting and emotional anticipation of Freshers Week as she begins a degree in art history.

Written in her familiar, conversational voice, Drawn to Nature invites you to reconnect with nature whether you nurture a sprawling garden, tend a single balcony pot, keep a few houseplants or simply delight in stepping outside.  Stories from her life as an actor are interwoven with memories of places, people and gardens that shaped her love of the outdoors.  The book is illustrated by Caroline herself, capturing flora, fauna, landscapes and small natural details with charm.

Caroline Quentin is a renowned figure in British comedy, well known for her lead roles in the award-winning British sitcom Men Behaving Badly and crime drama Jonathan Creek. Aside from her career as an actress, she has been a passionate gardener for many years. She grew up in Reigate, Surrey, but now lives in a country farmhouse in Devon, where she grows her own vegetables, and has a large orchard. Her dedicated Instagram account, @cqgardens, shows her love for gardening in pictures, and is wildly popular in its own right.