BBC gardening presenter Toby Buckland has written  a new book - the 'Gardeners' World Practical Gardening Handbook' - as a practical companion to the flagship TV show Gardeners' World which returns to our screens on Friday 5th March 2010 for the new season.

This is very much a practical book with an easy to follow layout containing lots of tried-and-tested tips and ideas for practical use in the garden.

Toby has a very practical outlook to gardening which is refreshing in a world where so many garden presenters sometimes tend to take us into the realms of fantasy. His ethos is one I strongly support in that we should see the garden - not as just another list of jobs - but as a place to relish spending our time in and importantly enjoy.

He also believes that we should approach the garden holistically, as a body which is connected to the kitchen, compost heap and the world beyond.  In the book he turns gardening into an adventure with a variety of garden projects.

In his introduction to the book Toby explains: "I believe we are all born gardeners. It's in our DNA to want to grow and gather. We all have an ‘inner gardener’ which when nurtured gives back great returns, not only to your garden but to your well-being.”

To enjoy gardening for its own sake and to ensure that your garden does not become part of the daily grind of housework and office but a means of escape - in effect the solution to escape from the daily grind – is very much the theme of the book.

The book is in three parts. Part 1: Getting to know your garden - covers creating a garden and outsourcing, Part 2: Growing your garden - covers growing from seeds, cuttings etc, the edible garden, the greenhouse, lawns and wildlife. Part 3:  looks at a variety of garden projects and actually living in your garden.

Toby joined the Gardeners' World team in August 2008 and has built up a reputation for building artistic garden features made from plants and recycled materials. He studied at Hadlow College, Kent, and later worked at The University of Cambridge Botanic Garden.  He is a regular contributor to newspapers and gardening magazines and has written three previous books including ‘How to Make Your Garden Grow’. He lives near the coast in Devon with his wife and three children and gardens on a steep south-facing slope.

The Gardeners' World Practical Gardening Handbook – traditional techniques, expert skills and innovative ideas – is published by Ebury and releases on 4th March 2010. Purchase on Amazon for £12.99 (as going to print) and save 35% off the rrp, click here for more details.

You can also see Toby demonstrating tips from the book at www.youtube.com/user/EburyReads