Gardening to Feed Body, Soul and Society

Leyla Kazim is a TV and radio presenter, writer and journalist. She is a critic on BBC One's MasterChef, a presenter on BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme and this year, she is transforming her life in ways she never imagined – to be revealed soon and discussed at the talk! Leyla is also the author of the bestselling newsletter A Day Well Spent, for people seeking pathways to more purposeful living.

Jenny Linford is a London-based food writer and editor, a longstanding member of the Guild of Food Writers. She is the author and editor of over 20 books, among them The Missing Ingredient: The Curious Role of Time in Food and Flavour (2018), The Kew Gardens Christmas Book (2023), The Great British Food Tour (the National Trust and HarperCollins, 2025), Repast: The Story of Food (the British Museum and Thames & Hudson, 2025) and The Kew Gardens Salad Book (Kew Publishing). A cheese-enthusiast, she also produces and presents the popular A Slice of Cheese podcast series for Food FM radio.

Claire Ratinon is an organic food grower and writer. Claire has shared her growing journey in talks for organisations including Tate Liverpool, Barbican Centre and Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh, as well on Radio 4 and in her fortnightly column for the Guardian’s Saturday Magazine. She co-wrote the pamphlet, Horticultural Appropriation for Rough Trade Books with artist, Sam Ayre and her first book, How To Grow Your Dinner Without Leaving The House was published in August 2020. Her latest book, Unearthed: On Race and Roots, and How the Soil Taught Me I Belong, is out now.

Kathy Slack is a food writer, stylist, photographer and kitchen gardener who previously worked at Daylesford Organic Farm, before becoming a full-time writer and recipe developer, hosting supper clubs and cookery demonstrations with harvests from her garden, as well as food styling and developing recipes for brands and publications. Kathy is Fortnum & Mason's vegetable expert, hosts two podcasts, and has spoken at RHS Festival of Flavours, Big Feastival, Rock Oyster and Wilderness. Kathy's first book, From the Veg Patch, was named one of the Top 25 cookbooks in 2021 by Delicious magazine and was shortlisted for The Guild of Food Writers Award for Best Cookbook 2022. She writes regularly for The Simple Things Magazine, OcadoLife and her own Substack newsletter, Tales from the Veg Patch.

Pam Warhurst CBE has been an activist and public sector advisor for over 40 years. She currently chairs Incredible Edible CIC, an international initiative begun in Northern England using the Trojan horse of local food growing to demonstrate the power of small actions in bringing about major cultural shifts. She is currently leading the campaign for a Right to Grow on public land, changing the rules to make it easier for everyone to nurture their communities and enhance nature in the places we call home. In former lives Pam was a Local Authority leader, Health Trust Chair, member of several National and regional boards and Chair of Forestry Commission GB.

The British Library Food Season returns for its seventh year, bringing together some of the most influential names in food, drink, hospitality, literature and science, for a series of events that highlight the stories, the politics and the people behind how and why we eat. Discover more Food Season events. 

This is an in-person only event in the British Library Knowledge Centre. Please arrive no later than 15 minutes before the start time of this event.  If you have specific access requirements please email customer@bl.uk

There are a range of concessions available. These include discounts for British Library Members, half-price tickets for students and under 26s, free entry for carers as well as a number of other concessions.