Muddles at the Manor

Fern Hollow

by John Patience

Mr Blodger, the gardener at Trundleberry Manor, decides to try a bit of topiary. It's all going very well until he falls off his ladder and breaks his leg. Because old Blodger is unable to work, Lord Trundle hires Horace Hoppit and Spike Willowbank, who are on holiday from school, as temporary gardeners. Horace and Hoppit tackle their holiday job with energy and enthusiasm, but things don't quite go according to plan.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books

22 pages, Hardcover

First published June 22, 1984

About the author

John Patience was born in Lancashire, England, in 1949 and trained in typography and book design at the Harris College in Preston, Lancashire. After college, he worked briefly as a designer for a couple of publishers in London, England but he really wanted to have his own children's books published. He did various jobs to earn a living, whilst writing and developing his skills as an illustrator.

John's first self-authored illustrated children's book was published in 1980 - 'The Seasons in Fern Hollow'. Over the next few years this grew into four further series called 'Tales from Fern Hollow', eventually totalling 17 titles.

Since then John has had more than 100 titles published in many countries around the world and translated into many languages. He has written, designed and illustrated both "flat" books and pop-up books.

He lives with his wife in rural France and as well as his writing and illustrating he enjoys producing digital sculptures.