Peter Dowdall: Our new gardening columnist

Thinking about how I would try to fill the shoes of my predecessor on this page has driven me to distraction. So I have decided not to.

I have had several influences in my life when it comes to gardening: my mother from whom I inherited the bug — I still remember mixing compost with soil and sand in a wheelbarrow like I was helping to make a giant soil cake. And I was addicted as a young child to Geoff Hamilton and his exploits in Barnsdale on Gardener’s World. I still remember being enchanted watching him prepare beds for planting and getting seeds ready to sow.

That love affair with all things garden and gardening has continued into my adult life and has been nourished and encouraged each week by Charlie’s column in this paper. There are very few people who are known simply by their Christian name but Charlie is one of them. A unique way with words and a real love of his subject matter combined with his easy way of imparting knowledge made his column an essential part of the Saturday ritual for me and many more. So, no, I have decided not to try and fill his shoes… because I couldn’t.