Brenda Colvin (1897-1981) ranks with Sylvia Crowe and Geoffrey Jellicoe as a pioneer of twentieth-century landscape design in Britain. This first full account of her life and work demonstrates her importance.

Early in her career Colvin visited the USA to see the new civic landscaping projects, especially the parkways. In England she transformed the landscapes of power stations, reservoirs, industrial sites, new towns and national parks and worked on private gardens. Her simple planting style and her ecological approach had enormous influence. Colvin championed the profession of landscape architect as a founder member and president of the Landscape Institute. Her books Land and Landscape and Trees for Town and Country remain standard works. Hal Moggridge, who became her partner; has written the foreword to this book.

Trish Gibson has had full access to the archives of Colvin & Moggridge. She draws on Colvin's personal notebook and uses previously unpublished material. The offices of Covin & Moggridge continue to thrive at Little Peacocks, Filkins, Gloucestershire, where Colvin's garden is kept as it was in her day.