Ade Sellars, AKA The Good Life Gardener has a debut children’s book out tomorrow called The Plot on the Hill: The Carrot Catastrophe. Here, the garden designer explains how his gardening adventure began after setting up home in Suffolk
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Ade Sellars AKA The Good Life Gardener. I’m a garden designer, TV presenter, stage host, filmmaker and award-winning garden writer… It’s true, I spin a lot of plates, but I’ve never been good at siting still.
What led you to Suffolk? And what do you love about the county?
My wife Sophie is originally from Suffolk. So, in our early years together, we would spend weekends visiting her family. I fell in love with the landscapes immediately. Every time we passed the sugar beet factory, it was always a happy sight to see. Even though I’m a born and bred Bristolian, this part of the world always felt where I should be.
Eventually moving to rural Suffolk, our home is surrounded by farmers’ fields. I adore watching the seasons change, becoming familiar with the growing crops, the farmers’ routines, and the changing colours of the seasons. Since living out here, I’ve learnt so much more about wildlife and weather patterns, so hopefully my growing crops have benefitted from it. My wife and I often joke that wherever we want to go in Suffolk, it always seems to be only 40 minutes away. So, if we want a night at the theatre, or sat in a beer garden by the river, everything is in easy reach. There is so much individuality in the places and people. I’m also big on history, and a Simon Scarrow fan, and both Norfolk and Suffolk are packed with it.
How did you become The Good Life Gardener? What is your background?
I’m from Bristol originally. Growing up I only ever wanted to be the next Rik Mayall. Writing and performing comedy was all I wanted to do. Leaving school, I spent several years working on building sites, being a lifeguard, gym instructor, barman, desperately trying to save to get to drama school. I was also writing and performing in and around Bristol and Bath theatre and stand-up clubs. Moving to London, I studied, worked and became a professional actor and scriptwriter. I did some weird and wonderful jobs during those years and met some incredible people. From writing and performing plays at the Edinburgh Festival to acting in an action movie with Dolph Lungrean. I sometimes wonder, if there’s a book in my previous life before gardening took over.
Gardening was always in the background. My Dad was a great gardener. But it really wasn’t until 2009, when Soph and I bought our first home together, that the hobby of gardening became a passion, a career and eventually a whole new way of life. We had an allotment; I then went on to get my RHS qualifications. Then in 2016, we won the Garden Media Guild ‘Blog of the Year’. I think that was the moment we decided we wanted to lead the good life. So, in 2018, after 20 years of living in London, we packed our bags and setup home in rural Suffolk, where I built my dream kitchen garden and started my garden adventure.
How would you describe your new book, The Plot on the Hill – The Carrot Catastrophe?
The Plot on the Hill: The Carrot Catastrophe tells the tale of Hornbeam, a magical sprite who lives on an allotment plot, tending the vegetables when its elderly owner, Old Joe, isn’t around. But when a reckless robin wreaks havoc in the carrot patch, Hornbeam and his friends must restore order and save the day before Old Joe returns.
The book was inspired by my own childhood; I had fond memories as a child running around my dad’s allotment. Often pretending I was Han Solo being chased by stormtroopers, trying to get back to the Millenium Falcon AKA my dad’s shed. In a world that’s becoming increasingly digital, I hope to enchant young readers with the simple, tangible magic of gardening: being outside, getting grubby, eating peas straight out of the pod. There is so much doom and gloom in news at the moment, so, for me, it’s putting a little joy back into the world. Whether it’s the book, spending time gardening, or just being kinder to one another, we can all do it, no matter how young or old you are.
What age group is it aimed at? How important is it to get young people interested in gardening at an early age?
Ideally, it’s for children between 8 and 12. I want children to embrace their garden, whether they’re getting their hands in the soil, sowing seeds with their parents or creating imaginative stories that take them on magical adventures around the garden. They should be allowed to explore, learn and make mistakes. That’s the thing about gardening; you will always make mistakes, it’s how we make wonderful discoveries. I hope the book will give readers an invitation to go and explore their own green space.
Would you like to give a shout out to the illustrator?
Annie Richardson is the fabulous illustrator to The Plot on the Hill, and she has totally captured the book and my thoughts. Also, Annie is also a writer, so she has that extra perspective on getting the best from her illustrations. When I first saw her drawings of the main characters, it brought tears to my eyes. It’s one thing describing them, but to see them through someone else’s eyes was quite a moment. I should also say that Annie is another Suffolk resistant, so for me, having this book’s roots firmly planted in this county was important to me.
When is your book out and where can people get hold of a copy?
The book is due out on June 30 by Softwood Books, and the official book launch on July 9. It should be available at the usual outlets.
Will you be doing a book tour? If so, where?
At this moment I am currently reaching out to festivals, bookshops and venues. Although I’m a fairly quiet guy, I do love being onstage performing, can never quite get rid of the actor in me. To know where I will be, go to my website: adesellars.com
Could it be the first of a series of children’s books on a gardening theme?
Definitely! I’m currently working on the second, with the compete series already mapped out. If that wasn’t enough, I’m also working on turning a film script I wrote many years ago into a family book. And in between all that, I do want to write a gardening book, with my unique spin on all things growing and an added sprinkle of Rik Mayall anarchy.
The Plot on the Hill: The Carrot Catastrophe, written by Ade Sellars and illustrated by Annie Richardson, is due for release tomorrow (June 30 2026) and will be available in all good bookshops. Visit adesellars.com.
Featured image of Ade Sellars by Caroline Horne Suffolk Photography
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