Stefan Buczacki
Encyclopedia
Dr. Stefan T. Buczacki is a British
horticulturist, broadcaster and author.
After growing up in Duffield, Derbyshire
, where he was educated at The Ecclesbourne School
, he gained a first-class honours degree in botany at Southampton University, and a D.Phil. in forest science at Oxford, before starting a career in research for the Agricultural Research Council at the National Vegetable Research Station at Wellesbourne
, Warwickshire
. He gained an international reputation as a plant pathologist and made major contributions to the biology and control of a species of Phytomyxea
, Plasmodiophora brassicae, the cause of club root disease, before leaving research to become a freelance author and broadcaster in 1984. He now lives in Stratford-upon-Avon
.
His subsequent broadcasting work included twelve years as a panel member and then chairman of Gardeners' Question Time
on BBC Radio 4
, contributing to over six hundred consecutive editions. He also devised and presented The Gardening Quiz, on BBC Radio 4
and Classic Gardening Forum on Classic FM
. He has also appeared frequently on British television embracing contributions to all five terrestrial channels and including Gardeners' World
on BBC 2 as well as many series on satellite and regional stations. He is credited as Britain's second biggest selling gardening author, with about 50 books to his name on both gardening and natural history. His Fauna Britannica was an account of the entire wild animal life of the British Isles for which HRH the Prince of Wales
wrote the Foreword. He also wrote Volume 102 Garden Natural History for Collins
's New Naturalist
series. He has written for many national newspapers and magazines. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Biology
, a Chartered Biologist, a founder Fellow of the Institute of Horticulture, a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London
, Associate of the Royal Photographic Society
, and Honorary Professor of Plant Pathology at Liverpool John Moores University
. He is an authority on fungi and past-President of the British Mycological Society
and was awarded the Society's Benefactor's Medal. He is a Fellow of CAB International
, holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Derby
and in 2007 was installed as the first Honorary Fellow of Pershore College shortly before its merger with Warwickshire College
. He also has an interest in modern British political history and is recognised internationally as an authority on Winston Churchill
and his house at Chartwell
, described in his book Churchill and Chartwell.
Buczacki has been an outspoken critic of makeover gardening programmes on television believing it is more important to show people how to garden than to pretend to do it for them. In September 2011 he criticised Gardeners Question Time for having 'lost its way'.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
horticulturist, broadcaster and author.
After growing up in Duffield, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, where he was educated at The Ecclesbourne School
The Ecclesbourne School
The Ecclesbourne School is a secondary school situated in Duffield, Derbyshire, England. It is one of the most in-demand secondary schools in Derbyshire and has been awarded the top grade "Outstanding" in its past four Ofsted inspections.-History:...
, he gained a first-class honours degree in botany at Southampton University, and a D.Phil. in forest science at Oxford, before starting a career in research for the Agricultural Research Council at the National Vegetable Research Station at Wellesbourne
Wellesbourne
Wellesbourne is a large village and civil parish in the county of Warwickshire, in the West Midlands region of the UK. In the 2001 census the parish, which also includes the village of Walton, had a population of 5,691 Wellesbourne is a large village and civil parish in the county of Warwickshire,...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. He gained an international reputation as a plant pathologist and made major contributions to the biology and control of a species of Phytomyxea
Phytomyxea
The Phytomyxea are a group of protists that are parasites of plants. A more common name for them is the plasmodiophorids, but this does not always include Phagomyxa. They typically develop within plant cells, causing the infected tissue to grow into a gall or scab...
, Plasmodiophora brassicae, the cause of club root disease, before leaving research to become a freelance author and broadcaster in 1984. He now lives in Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
.
His subsequent broadcasting work included twelve years as a panel member and then chairman of Gardeners' Question Time
Gardeners' Question Time
Gardeners' Question Time is a long-running BBC Radio 4 programme in which amateur gardeners can put questions to a panel of experts.-History:...
on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
, contributing to over six hundred consecutive editions. He also devised and presented The Gardening Quiz, on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
and Classic Gardening Forum on Classic FM
Classic FM (UK)
Classic FM, one of the United Kingdom's three Independent National Radio stations, broadcasts classical music in a popular and accessible style.-Overview:...
. He has also appeared frequently on British television embracing contributions to all five terrestrial channels and including Gardeners' World
Gardeners' World
Gardeners' World is a long-running BBC television programme about gardening that continues to this day. Its first episode was filmed in 1968, presented by Ken Burras and came from Oxford Botanical Gardens. The magazine BBC Gardeners' World is a tie-in to the programme. Most of its episodes have...
on BBC 2 as well as many series on satellite and regional stations. He is credited as Britain's second biggest selling gardening author, with about 50 books to his name on both gardening and natural history. His Fauna Britannica was an account of the entire wild animal life of the British Isles for which HRH the Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
wrote the Foreword. He also wrote Volume 102 Garden Natural History for Collins
HarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
's New Naturalist
New Naturalist
The New Naturalist Library books are a series published by Collins in the United Kingdom, on a variety of natural history topics relevant to the British Isles...
series. He has written for many national newspapers and magazines. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Biology
Institute of Biology
The Institute of Biology was a professional body for biologists, primarily those working in the United Kingdom. The Institute was founded in 1950 by the Biological Council: the then umbrella body for Britain's many learned biological societies...
, a Chartered Biologist, a founder Fellow of the Institute of Horticulture, a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London
Linnean Society of London
The Linnean Society of London is the world's premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history. It publishes a zoological journal, as well as botanical and biological journals...
, Associate of the Royal Photographic Society
Royal Photographic Society
The Royal Photographic Society is the world's oldest national photographic society. It was founded in London, United Kingdom in 1853 as The Photographic Society of London with the objective of promoting the Art and Science of Photography...
, and Honorary Professor of Plant Pathology at Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University is a British 'modern' university located in the city of Liverpool, England. The university is named after John Moores and was previously called Liverpool Mechanics' School of Arts and later Liverpool Polytechnic before gaining university status in 1992, thus...
. He is an authority on fungi and past-President of the British Mycological Society
British Mycological Society
The British Mycological Society is a learned society established in 1896 to promote the study of fungi.-Formation:The Society was formed based on the efforts of two local societies, the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club of Hereford and the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union. The curator of the Hereford...
and was awarded the Society's Benefactor's Medal. He is a Fellow of CAB International
CAB International
CAB International is a not-for-profit inter-governmental organisation based in the United Kingdom....
, holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Derby
University of Derby
The University of Derby is a university in the city of Derby, England. The main site is on Kedleston Road, Allestree in the north-west of Derby close to the A38 opposite Markeaton Park...
and in 2007 was installed as the first Honorary Fellow of Pershore College shortly before its merger with Warwickshire College
Warwickshire College
Warwickshire College is a large further and higher education college in England. It provides National Curriculum courses and vocational education in a broad range of subjects to students aged 16 and over...
. He also has an interest in modern British political history and is recognised internationally as an authority on Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
and his house at Chartwell
Chartwell
Chartwell was the principal adult home of Sir Winston Churchill. Churchill and his wife Clementine bought the property, located two miles south of Westerham, Kent, England, in 1922...
, described in his book Churchill and Chartwell.
Buczacki has been an outspoken critic of makeover gardening programmes on television believing it is more important to show people how to garden than to pretend to do it for them. In September 2011 he criticised Gardeners Question Time for having 'lost its way'.