I have signed the petition. I will be gutted if Beechgrove goes. It is highly informative and packed full of useful, friendly advice for all kinds of different gardeners. Even though I live in southern England, I really enjoy seeing Scottish gardens and learning about the challenges and diverse climates / landscapes they have. It’s a great advert for Scotland.
I don't know what the point of BBC Scotland is. Their dismissive tone on how people can just use Social Media really annoys me. This is a well loved programme being destroyed by bean counters who don't care about the viewers. I have signed.
The existence of BBC Scotland Television is at the behest of nationalism, unfortunately.. There are a significant number of people who want a regional broadcaster demerged from the BBC - Scottish television only about Scotland and only for Scottish people. [think of The Armando Iannucci sketch - Except for viewers in Scotland] [1]
Though I've never watched the new BBC Scotland Television I had a look at the schedules this evening for the first time and I understand the programming hasn't really reflected a desire for more Scottish-themed content. Even if local programming does increase it will be principally M8-belt-dominated, like what happened when local (county) radio was sacrificed for BBC Radio Scotland in 1978 [2], sport programming and Gaelic language programming..
It used to make my heart sink a little the number of times some of the presenters of The Beechgrove Garden dropped in the S word unnecessarily and more frequently as the years went on. "OK, I get it, you're nationalist", I used to think, "but could you just get on with gardening and less of trying to make it parochial and nationalist?". One would have thought they'd not do anything to hinder a broader nationwide and international appeal as it has vast potential interest worldwide to those living in cold, wet or windy climates or with a short growing season.
I know many amateur gardeners down south who don't watch Beechgrove because it's presented as being only relevant to Scotland.
I don't think it has been deprioritised solely due to beancounters, though I'm not sure how the budgeting works at the BBC with regard to nationwide v's programming that is perceived as regional.
If these things are decided at UK wide level then one should consider that by some there's a perception of saturation in the schedule of gardening and garden programmes, what with Chelsea week, the RHS shows, overseas tours of formal gardens, makeover programmes if any still exist, soil and plant science programming on BBC4 and incidental garden content within other property and lifestyle programmes.
As far as I know the BBC in Glasgow has ultimate control and this isn't the first time they've thrown Beechgrove under the bus ... remember Beechgrove Potting Shed? [3]. How much input from BBC national network (i.e. UK) and the flagship brands there was into that decision I don't know.
I really thought watching the fist episode this year that the programme was going to go on the up following the recruitment of the young market gardener who has a clear RP voice. Though I'm local (I could have thrown stones into the old BBC site garden) my hearing difficulties give me problems with thick regional accents, particularly Scottish ones.
AnniD: Tern on Crown Street own the garden I think. It's a larger garden than the GW [Mr Don's)]one by a fraction of a hectare. I was past it the other day looking for a garden centre near there but I've never had a look in, not that it's ever open to visitors from the general public.
It has gone very quiet on the Beechgrove front - l wonder what the take up is on Social Media? Maybe l am wrong (and l'd be happy to be proved so), and hundreds of young people have discovered the joy of Beechgrove and have been inspired to begin gardening. I remember the days when the BBC was a public service broadcaster, now it appears to be a public "this is what you're getting like it or not" broadcaster. I still wonder if Beechgrove will return at the end of the month or if it will just be quietly dropped.
The Beechgrove programme is outsourced to Tern, a production company. I suspect they're the same people who used to do GW before it was taken back in house when MD took over and we had Berryfields and then Greenthingy and now MD's garden.
I can't imagine why the Beeb in Scotland is wanting to kill off Beechgrove as it is well loved by its Scottish audience and, now that we've been getting it on Beeb 2 on Sundays, much loved in the rest of the UK too and far more practical and informative about when, where, how and what with proper trials too.
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)."
Very interesting @LG_ I was reading again about the new BBC Scotland channel earlier, it's viewing figures don't seem to be getting any better. I looked back through this thread and took note of the Beechgrove team appearing on the radio programme "Grow it". I have never listened to it, but if it's anything like Gardener's Question Time, it will be aimed at people with a fair amount of experience, who understand the descriptions being used. Television is invaluable for demonstrating techniques and showing what different plants look like. New gardeners (and not necessarily only young people) need that help. Poor Beechgrove, let's hope the message gets out there.
I think the death knell sounded as soon as Jim went. I grew up with B'grove, but it can never be the same without him, and it would be better to have a completely different programme now IMO.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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Maybe l am wrong (and l'd be happy to be proved so), and hundreds of young people have discovered the joy of Beechgrove and have been inspired to begin gardening.
I remember the days when the BBC was a public service broadcaster, now it appears to be a public "this is what you're getting like it or not" broadcaster. I still wonder if Beechgrove will return at the end of the month or if it will just be quietly dropped.
I can't imagine why the Beeb in Scotland is wanting to kill off Beechgrove as it is well loved by its Scottish audience and, now that we've been getting it on Beeb 2 on Sundays, much loved in the rest of the UK too and far more practical and informative about when, where, how and what with proper trials too.
I was reading again about the new BBC Scotland channel earlier, it's viewing figures don't seem to be getting any better.
I looked back through this thread and took note of the Beechgrove team appearing on the radio programme "Grow it". I have never listened to it, but if it's anything like Gardener's Question Time, it will be aimed at people with a fair amount of experience, who understand the descriptions being used. Television is invaluable for demonstrating techniques and showing what different plants look like. New gardeners (and not necessarily only young people) need that help.
Poor Beechgrove, let's hope the message gets out there.
I grew up with B'grove, but it can never be the same without him, and it would be better to have a completely different programme now IMO.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...