Clockwise from top left: a pale pink watering can spouting water, against a purple background; a trowel sticking out of a mound of soil on a bright green background; a hammer and nail against an orange background; a saw and plank of wood against a dark blue background.

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Reading lists

The best DIY and gardening books

Karen Farrington

An engaging war-time tale about the fortitude of children and the transformative impact of one woman's care for them. These evocative first-person memories conjure a vivid picture of 1940s Britain, leaving a lasting impression.

A heart-warming story of hope and kindness

Full of fascinating detail, affectionately told, The Angels of Englemere Wood is by turns a humbling, touching, astonishing and ultimately uplifting read

A winning blend of nostalgic personal narratives with a detailed social history of World War Two. I guarantee you'll be charmed by every one of the cast of waifs and strays, as well as by the "Angels" who took care of them.

An exquisite, meticulously researched account of what happened to Britain's disadvantaged children and all who touched their lives when war came. Gentle, fascinating, nostalgic - I loved being in the company of this beautiful humane book

A well-documented, imaginatively empathetic account of her life

The Angels of Englemere is a heart rending and meticulously researched story of love, loss, companionship and bonding through the eyes of a group of disadvantaged children during WW2. When their families couldn't cope with them, doors opened that would transform their lives. This is a beautifully written nostalgic read.

The uplifting and inspiring true story of a children’s home during the Blitz

In 1940, as Britain braced for war, a group of poor London girls were dispatched to a children's home in Ascot to escape the merciless Luftwaffe bombing. At Englemere Wood they came under the care of the formidable but kindly Matron Doris Bailey - the Angel of Englemere - who cherished each girl as her own. 
 
 Through first-hand accounts from the surviving girls, their stories and anecdotes shed light on life at the time - from the emotional upheaval of evacuation to adventures on the royal grounds of their new home - and the work of a woman who helped save a generation.

Karen Farrington

Praise for The Angels of Englemere Wood

An engaging war-time tale about the fortitude of children and the transformative impact of one woman's care for them. These evocative first-person memories conjure a vivid picture of 1940s Britain, leaving ...

A heart-warming story of hope and kindness

Full of fascinating detail, affectionately told, The Angels of Englemere Wood is by turns a humbling, touching, astonishing and ultimately uplifting read

An engaging war-time tale about the fortitude of children and the transformative impact of one woman's care for them. These evocative first-person memories conjure a vivid picture of 1940s Britain, leaving ...

A heart-warming story of hope and kindness

Full of fascinating detail, affectionately told, The Angels of Englemere Wood is by turns a humbling, touching, astonishing and ultimately uplifting read

An engaging war-time tale about the fortitude of children and the transformative impact of one woman's care for them. These evocative first-person memories conjure a vivid picture of 1940s Britain, leaving ...

A heart-warming story of hope and kindness

Full of fascinating detail, affectionately told, The Angels of Englemere Wood is by turns a humbling, touching, astonishing and ultimately uplifting read

Articles featuring Karen Farrington

The best DIY and gardening books

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