
Simon Akeroyd
Passionate about both practical gardening and garden history, Simon Akeroyd has worked in horticulture for the last 30 years and wrote his first ever gardening book (Shrubs and Small Trees, DK) in 2008. Since then, he has gone on to write 30 more, many of which are published by the RHS or National Trust. Simon's latest gardening book Grow Your Groceries (DK) was published in March 2025 and is based on many of his social media videos showing how you can grow produce from your weekly shop. It became an instant Sunday Times and Irish Times top 10 bestseller and continued to be a rip-roaring success throughout 2025. Simon has twice been shortlisted by Garden Media Guild for his books The Allotment Handbook (DK) and RHS Gardening School, as well as recently receiving the Social Media Influencer of the Year Award 2025. In a little over two years since he took to social media, Simon's accounts have attracted over 2 million followers (inc. over 1m on IG, 800k+ on TikTok and 350k+ on FB), where he shares his easy-to-follow gardening tips. Simon believes strongly in making gardening accessible to everyone, showing beginner gardeners how they can grow their own food on just a windowsill or in a container and costing practically nothing. During his 30 year career in horticultural, Simon considers himself lucky to have been Head Gardener or Garden Manager for some of the most beautiful gardens in the country. He has a particular passion for 18th century gardening and is a specialist in plants from that period. Gardens he’s been responsible for include RHS Wisley, RHS Harlow Carr, Compton Castle, Agatha Christie's Greenway and most recently Painshill in Cobham, Surrey, which is considered to be one of the finest examples of an 18th century English Landscape in the country. At the start of 2026, Simon launched his own Gardening Academy on the English Riviera, with Gardening Experience Days on offer at the stunning Torre Abbey garden in Torquay, Devon. Simon originally studied for a philosophy degree at Lampeter University and after graduating, he went on to study viticulture and winemaking in Sussex before joining RHS Wisley to continue his horticultural education and journey. Simon also worked as a horticultural researcher, writer and producer across the BBC Gardening website, including working behind the scenes with productions such as Chelsea Flower Show, Hampton Court, Gardeners' World, Gardens Through Time, Ground Force and Garden Invaders. When he isn't gardening or writing, Simon enjoys canoeing on the River Dart or exploring (and usually getting lost) on Dartmoor in Devon. He is often accompanied on his gardening adventures by his two dogs, River, a chocolate cocker spaniel and Beanie, a black and white springer spaniel, who also like to put in appearances in Simon's social media posts.


















