Book recommendations for a novice gardener

[Rupster]

Hi. I'm looking book recommendations for a novice gardener.

We have a rectangular 60 foot x 30 foot back garden, and I'm looking to make it a bit more interesting. It has standard 6-foot fence panels on 3 sides. I love the ivy that completely covers the back fencing, and I'd love the side fences be covered in either climbing plants of have plants/shrubs/trees in front of them so you see the plants and not the fencing.

But I guess I really need to know the basics first?

Thanks.

Definitely Alan Titchmarsh's books.

The RHS website has a section called New Gardener and it looks as if non members can access it. There is also a new book by Adam Frost ( who is often on Gardeners World with the lovely Monty Don not forgetting Nellie and Nigel) called How to Create your Garden. Looks quite useful.
The Dr Hessian (? spelling)books are quite good too but we usually go back to the RHS Encyclopedia of gardening-our old one fell apart and we got the latest edition a couple of years ago.

PS - I would go into a bookshop and have a look at the gardening section- sometimes you just need to see the layout and the style of the book. For instance I still love my copy of Mr SMith Propogates Plants - when I want to take cuttings- Geoffrey Smith has been dead for many years...

The 'Expert' series by DG Hessayon - you can often find them in charity shops and car boot sales cheaply and there are loads of titles so you can buy them as you need them.

Geoff Hamilton's Practical Gardening Course was recommended to me on here and it's the best book I got.

Thanks everyone.