I agree @Obelixx. That tiddling bit was not enough for a Tree Fern. Never mind, we always have that next season bit he does in March, with his breath showing, when we are all excited to start again.
I am a huge fan of G.W. and M.Don, I just love the pace of the programme, I find it such a relaxing watch. The Paradise garden does nothing for me - it is far too formal and now I feel that the four apple trees that he planted tonight are far too close, they make me think of working in the garden - not of paradise and relaxing.
I pick out the features that are similar to our garden i.e. the veg., the pond, the flowers, shrubs and borders in fact most topics interest me - I have no major complaints.
It has finished earlier this year I am sure of it, lots to be done in the garden still and preparing for next year.
I am not fussed about presenters, I've only seen GW with Monty Don in so can't compare with any previous presenters, I do like the monty on GW.
I do watch BGroove as well which is good, Chris Beardshaw is very good with plenty of info. As a young (ish) watcher of both BG and GW I don't think either are going to get much attention for people my age, it be difficult / impossible to get any of my friends to watch GW or BG I couldn't see any watching BG what so ever. BG feels like it made for older viewers in my opinion, it would come across as bland for younger viewers with no / little interest in gardening.
And yet BG regularly features youngsters gardening and has had regular features helping young families get a garden going - similar to Adam's this year with that young couple. It's also more factual than GW which can be a bit vague sometimes. Tell your younger friends how cool (and cheap and easy) it is to grow and eat their own herbs, veg, fruit and they'll soon get the message.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I also enjoy BG on Sunday mornings whilst waiting for the ARchers to begin. 30 minutes just whizzes by, but although it is helpful/factual and interesting, GW is tops for me. Perhaps it is the dogs that do it for me - they are so placid and well behaved and so right for Monty and Longmeadow. However as I said above the programme is so in tune with our garden (minus the Paradise and white themes).
When my brother was at school in the 1950's gardening was a subject taught from an early age - when I joined the school the garden had been tarmacked over to make a car park for the staff.
Back in those days teachers all had to have a degree and were, relatively speaking, better paid so they could afford to buy cars before many of the parents of the kids they taught. It was certainly like that in my primary schools.
It used to be that I would watch GW armed with a note book and, when we got a video recorder, a supply of tapes just for GW so I could look back and see again. Then it went to Berryfields where I enjoyed it still but it felt disconnected somehow. Then it moved to Green something with TB and I spent most of the programme being so irritated I took to watching only the recording with my finger mostly on FF.
These days it is to be watched when I need a quiet evening, relaxing with a glass of wine and FF for the bits I know are going to utterly irrelevant and/or of no interest. Quite a lot of that lately and I also have my laptop for noodling and googling because GW just doesn't hold my attention anymore.
Beechgrove gets my full attention except for bedding plants and community gardens tho I do like the visits to teh local gardens during those programmes.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I thought it was just me who finds a good few bits of GW irrelevant. I also fast forward through them, thinking: this programme is supposed to give advice about gardening, why are they showing that?! There should be enough proper gardening information to fill one hour a week. Oh and I too think this year they finished earlier than usual.
I’m curious - a few people seem to think GW should be all about advice. Why? Every week I learn about a technique/planting style/plant, I’m inspired by seeing new things, I get to see other people’s excellent gardens, I see how gardening is used to build community and treat mental ill-health. I personally find it almost all interesting at the least, if not helpful and sparking ideas for my own garden.
I should add, of course some people aren’t going to find particular segments more interesting than others! I’m just trying to understand the sentiment that the show should just be about practical advice - I may have simply got the wrong end of the stick, so feel free to tell me so
I think the thing is Andy, that GW was pretty much about practical advice "back in the day", before the internet became the go to place for information. It was where l would watch Geoff Hamilton doing various tasks around Barnsdale, and if l found something interesting or relevant to me, l would either buy a garden magazine or book to learn more. (I know, it's like history !). These days, there is so much information available and it is much easier to find out what you need to know - this forum being a case in point. I can understand why GW these days is more like a magazine programme in some ways, and it can inspire viewers in different ways. Beechgrove is much more "old school" in style, l still learn things that l didn't know when l watch it. I find your viewpoint very interesting as l think we more mature people can sometimes forget what it's like to be starting out , and that times have changed. Hope that doesn't sound patronising, l don't mean it to be.
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I am not fussed about presenters, I've only seen GW with Monty Don in so can't compare with any previous presenters, I do like the monty on GW.
I do watch BGroove as well which is good, Chris Beardshaw is very good with plenty of info. As a young (ish) watcher of both BG and GW I don't think either are going to get much attention for people my age, it be difficult / impossible to get any of my friends to watch GW or BG I couldn't see any watching BG what so ever. BG feels like it made for older viewers in my opinion, it would come across as bland for younger viewers with no / little interest in gardening.
It used to be that I would watch GW armed with a note book and, when we got a video recorder, a supply of tapes just for GW so I could look back and see again. Then it went to Berryfields where I enjoyed it still but it felt disconnected somehow. Then it moved to Green something with TB and I spent most of the programme being so irritated I took to watching only the recording with my finger mostly on FF.
These days it is to be watched when I need a quiet evening, relaxing with a glass of wine and FF for the bits I know are going to utterly irrelevant and/or of no interest. Quite a lot of that lately and I also have my laptop for noodling and googling because GW just doesn't hold my attention anymore.
Beechgrove gets my full attention except for bedding plants and community gardens tho I do like the visits to teh local gardens during those programmes.
Oh and I too think this year they finished earlier than usual.