Jump to content

Lawrence D. Hills: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Patientone (talk | contribs)
323 edits
m →Books: Added 'The good fruit guide'
m script-assisted date audit and style fixes per MOS:NUM
 
(22 intermediate revisions by 15 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|British organic horticulturalist (1911–1990)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Lawrence D. Hills
| name = Lawrence D. Hills
Line 11: Line 11:
| death_place = Ryton-on-Dunsmore
| death_place = Ryton-on-Dunsmore
| occupation = Horticulturalist, writer
| occupation = Horticulturalist, writer
| spouse = Hilda Cherry Hills (1964-1989)
| spouse = Hilda Cherry Hills (1964–1989)
| organization = [[Henry Doubleday Research Association]]
| organization = [[Henry Doubleday Research Association]]
| nationality = English
| nationality = English
Line 17: Line 17:
}}
}}


'''Lawrence Donegan Hills''' (1911–1990)<ref>{{cite ODNB|id=70385|title=Hills, Lawrence Donegan|first=John|last=Martin}}</ref> was a British [[horticulturalist]] and writer. He founded the [[Henry Doubleday Research Association]] (HDRA) Bocking, near Braintree, Essex in 1954, now [[Garden Organic]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/our-history|title=Our history|last=|first=|date=|website=Garden Organic|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2017-10-13}}</ref> By the time he retired in 1986, HDRA was the largest body of organic gardeners in the world and had moved to Ryton-on-Dunsmore, near Coventry.
'''Lawrence Donegan Hills''' (2 July 1911 – 20 September 1990)<ref>{{cite ODNB|id=70385|title=Hills, Lawrence Donegan|first=John|last=Martin}}</ref> was a British [[horticulturalist]] and writer. In 1954, he founded the [[Henry Doubleday Research Association]] (HDRA; now [[Garden Organic]]) in Bocking, near Braintree, Essex.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/our-history|title=Our history|website=Garden Organic|access-date=13 October 2017}}</ref> By the time he retired in 1986, HDRA was the largest body of organic gardeners in the world and had moved to Ryton-on-Dunsmore, near Coventry.


He started his long career in practical horticulture when he was sixteen and wrote his first book mainly in RAF hospitals before being invalided out on D-Day. He was one of Britain's best-known writers on organic gardening. Gardening correspondent of the ''Observer'' for eight years, then of ''Punch'' and ''The Countryman''. He was Associate Editor of the ''Ecologist'' and ''Compost Science'' (USA).
He started his long career in practical horticulture when he was sixteen and wrote his first book mainly in RAF hospitals before being invalided out on D-Day. He was one of Britain's best-known writers on organic gardening. Gardening correspondent of the ''Observer'' for eight years, then of ''Punch'' and ''The Countryman''. He was Associate Editor of the ''Ecologist'' and ''Compost Science'' (USA). His many publications included ''Fertility Without Fertilisers'', ''Down to Earth Gardening'', and ''Organic Gardening'' but he was best known for ''Grow Your Own Fruit and Vegetables'' published by Faber & Faber in 1971. It rapidly became a bible for gardeners, self-sufficiency enthusiasts and commercial organic growers. His autobiography was ''Fighting Like the Flowers'' (1989).


⚫
Whilst researching a book called ''Russian [[Comfrey]]'', Hills discovered that this common plant was introduced in the nineteenth century by [[Henry Doubleday (1810–1902)]], a Quaker [[smallholding|smallholder]] who was so intrigued by its possibilities that he devoted the rest of his life to popularising it. Hills took up this crusade, finally naming his fledgling society in Doubleday's memory.
⚫
Hills suffered from [[coeliac disease]], which left him in a wheelchair until introduced to a wheat-free diet by Hilda Cherry Hills (d. 1989), a fellow author and noted [[nutritionist]] who became his wife. They had no children, but he once said he considered 'the ever-increasing membership of the Henry Doubleday Research Association is family enough for anyone'.


⚫
In 1973, his concern about a piece of European Union legislation outlawing historic varieties of vegetables, would lead to massive loss of genetic bio-diversity led to the setting up of HDRA's vegetable [[seed library]]. Persistent lobbying of government eventually resulted in the world's first vegetable [[gene bank]] where seed was deep frozen and stored forever.
His many publications included ''Fertility Without Fertilisers'', ''Down to Earth Gardening'', and ''Organic Gardening'' but he was best known for '''''Grow Your Own Fruit and Vegetables''''' published by Faber & Faber in 1971. It rapidly became a bible for gardeners, self-sufficiency enthusiasts and commercial organic growers. His autobiography was ''Fighting Like the Flowers'' (1989).


⚫
Hills suffered from [[coeliac disease]], which left him in a wheelchair until introduced to a wheat-free diet by Hilda Cherry Hills (d. 1989), a fellow author and noted [[nutritionist]] who became his wife. They had no children, but he once said he considered 'the ever-increasing membership of the Henry Doubleday Research Association is family enough for anyone'.
⚫
Whilst researching a book called ''Russian [[Comfrey]]'', Hills discovered that this common plant was introduced in the nineteenth century by [[Henry Doubleday (1810–1902)]] a Quaker smallholder who was so intrigued by its possibilities that he devoted the rest of his life to popularising it. Hills took up this crusade, finally naming his fledgling society in Doubleday's memory.


⚫
Hills appeared on television, lectured and broadcast on the radio in Great Britain, the US, South Africa, Belgium, France, Australia and New Zealand. HDRA hosted the 1987 television series on organic gardening ''All Muck and Magic'' which became so popular that it was one of Channel 4's top five programmes, attracting 3.5 million viewers a week. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by [[Coventry University]] in 1990.{{Citation needed|date=October 2017}}
⚫
In 1973, his concern about a piece of European Union legislation outlawing historic varieties of vegetables, would lead to massive loss of genetic bio-diversity led to the setting up of HDRA’s vegetable [[seed library]]. Persistent lobbying of government eventually resulted in the world’s first vegetable gene bank where seed was deep frozen and stored forever.

⚫
Lawrence D Hills appeared on television, lectured and broadcast on the radio in Great Britain, the USA, South Africa, Belgium, France, Australia and New Zealand. HDRA hosted the 1987 television series on organic gardening ''All Muck and Magic'' which became so popular that it was one of Channel 4's top five programmes, attracting 3.5 million viewers a week.

He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by [[Coventry University]] in 1991.{{Citation needed|date=October 2017}}


==Books==
==Books==
* Miniature alpine gardening (1945) Faber
* Miniature alpine gardening (1945) Faber
* Rapid tomato ripening for nurseryman and amateur (with Edward H Haywood, 1946) Faber
* The propagation of alpines (1950) Faber
* The propagation of alpines (1950) Faber
* Alpines without a garden (1953) Faber
* Alpines without a garden (1953) Faber
* Russian comfrey (1953) Faber
* Russian comfrey (1953) Faber
* Down to earth fruit and vegetable growing (1962) Faber
* Down to earth fruit and vegetable growing (1962) Faber
* Lands of the morning (1970) Regency Press
* Grow your own fruit and vegetables (1971) Faber
* Grow your own fruit and vegetables (1971) Faber
* Down to earth gardening (1975) Faber
* Down to earth gardening (1975) Faber
* Comfrey: past, present and future (1976) Faber
* Comfrey: past, present and future (1976) Faber
*Organic Gardening (Penguin Handbooks) (1977) Penguin
* Fertility gardening (1981) Cameron & Tayleur in association with David & Charles
* Fertility gardening (1981) Cameron & Tayleur in association with David & Charles
* Month by month organic gardening (1983) Thorsons
* Month by month organic gardening (1983) Thorsons
Line 48: Line 47:


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hills, Lawrence}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hills, Lawrence}}

[[Category:1911 births]]
[[Category:1911 births]]
[[Category:1990 deaths]]
[[Category:1990 deaths]]
[[Category:English horticulturists]]
[[Category:English horticulturists]]
[[Category:Organic farmers]]

Latest revision as of 21:13, 5 December 2024

Lawrence D. Hills
Born(1911-07-02)2 July 1911
Dartmouth
Died20 September 1990(1990-09-20) (aged 79)
Ryton-on-Dunsmore
NationalityEnglish
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
Occupation(s)Horticulturalist, writer
OrganizationHenry Doubleday Research Association
SpouseHilda Cherry Hills (1964–1989)

Lawrence Donegan Hills (2 July 1911 – 20 September 1990)[1] was a British horticulturalist and writer. In 1954, he founded the Henry Doubleday Research Association (HDRA; now Garden Organic) in Bocking, near Braintree, Essex.[2] By the time he retired in 1986, HDRA was the largest body of organic gardeners in the world and had moved to Ryton-on-Dunsmore, near Coventry.

He started his long career in practical horticulture when he was sixteen and wrote his first book mainly in RAF hospitals before being invalided out on D-Day. He was one of Britain's best-known writers on organic gardening. Gardening correspondent of the Observer for eight years, then of Punch and The Countryman. He was Associate Editor of the Ecologist and Compost Science (USA). His many publications included Fertility Without Fertilisers, Down to Earth Gardening, and Organic Gardening but he was best known for Grow Your Own Fruit and Vegetables published by Faber & Faber in 1971. It rapidly became a bible for gardeners, self-sufficiency enthusiasts and commercial organic growers. His autobiography was Fighting Like the Flowers (1989).

Whilst researching a book called Russian Comfrey, Hills discovered that this common plant was introduced in the nineteenth century by Henry Doubleday (1810–1902), a Quaker smallholder who was so intrigued by its possibilities that he devoted the rest of his life to popularising it. Hills took up this crusade, finally naming his fledgling society in Doubleday's memory.

In 1973, his concern about a piece of European Union legislation outlawing historic varieties of vegetables, would lead to massive loss of genetic bio-diversity led to the setting up of HDRA's vegetable seed library. Persistent lobbying of government eventually resulted in the world's first vegetable gene bank where seed was deep frozen and stored forever.

Hills suffered from coeliac disease, which left him in a wheelchair until introduced to a wheat-free diet by Hilda Cherry Hills (d. 1989), a fellow author and noted nutritionist who became his wife. They had no children, but he once said he considered 'the ever-increasing membership of the Henry Doubleday Research Association is family enough for anyone'.

Hills appeared on television, lectured and broadcast on the radio in Great Britain, the US, South Africa, Belgium, France, Australia and New Zealand. HDRA hosted the 1987 television series on organic gardening All Muck and Magic which became so popular that it was one of Channel 4's top five programmes, attracting 3.5 million viewers a week. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by Coventry University in 1990.[citation needed]

Books

[edit]
  • Miniature alpine gardening (1945) Faber
  • Rapid tomato ripening for nurseryman and amateur (with Edward H Haywood, 1946) Faber
  • The propagation of alpines (1950) Faber
  • Alpines without a garden (1953) Faber
  • Russian comfrey (1953) Faber
  • Down to earth fruit and vegetable growing (1962) Faber
  • Lands of the morning (1970) Regency Press
  • Grow your own fruit and vegetables (1971) Faber
  • Down to earth gardening (1975) Faber
  • Comfrey: past, present and future (1976) Faber
  • Organic Gardening (Penguin Handbooks) (1977) Penguin
  • Fertility gardening (1981) Cameron & Tayleur in association with David & Charles
  • Month by month organic gardening (1983) Thorsons
  • The good fruit guide (1984) Henry Doubleday Research Association
  • Fighting like the flowers (1989) Green Books

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Martin, John. "Hills, Lawrence Donegan". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/70385. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ "Our history". Garden Organic. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Lawrence_D._Hills&oldid=1261389449"