George Plumptre


The Honourable Wyndham George Plumptre is an English author, journalist and expert on gardening, formerly gardening correspondent for The Times, and since 2011, chief executive of the National Gardens Scheme.
The son of FitzWalter Brook Plumptre, 21st Lord FitzWalter, by his wife Margaret Melesina, daughter of Herbert William Deedes, and younger brother of Julian Brook Plumptre, 22nd Lord FitzWalter, Plumptre was raised at the family estate, Goodnestone Park, at Goodnestone, Dover, then educated at Radley College and Jesus College, Cambridge.
A writer since 1980, Plumptre is a contributor to Country Life, Homes & Gardens, The Daily Telegraph, and other publications. He has written numerous books about gardening, including Collins Book of British Gardens, The Latest Country Garden, Garden Ornament, Classic Planting and Royal Gardens and The English Country House Garden - and cricket, including Back Page Cricket, Homes of Cricket and The Golden Age of Cricket. He also produced a biography of King Edward VII, published in 1995.
From 1993 to 1996, alongside his other activities Plumptre was gardening correspondent for The Times; in 1999 he founded Greenfingers, now the UK's largest online-only garden specialist. In 2011, Plumptre became chief executive of the National Gardens Scheme, which opens gardens to the public to raise money for charity.
In 1984 Plumptre married Alexandra Cantacuzene-Speransky; they have two sons and a daughter. They were divorced in 2008. In 2010 Plumptre married Annabel Williams.