But he was right. It's not a true cross section of the British public, just as a football or rugby crowd isn't. It's people form many walks of life who are interested in plants and gardens and that's the important part.
I like that it's green this year. Really disliked those desert and dusty garden of recent years. Beth Chatto has shown us that with good soil prep and the right plants a dry garden can be lush and colourful and full of pollinators and life and not just dry sand and stones with an occasional weedy plant.
HazyB - you can't buy plants at Chelsea. It's a display to show you what is out there - some lily bulbs and some seeds and some portable ornaments but everything else is by mail order from the stand or else internet afterwards.
Unless you go on the last day when they’re deconstructing the exhibits and show gardens ... my boss used to come home with some amazing plants .. but her stories of managing large plants on London Underground and the train back to Norfolk were 😱
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
what are these socio economic groups, explain, of course it not a cross section of the public, you will go if you like plants,gardens, I object to be told I shouldnt go because I am working class, as though we are inferior,
Have looked them up, well I am retired, so are most of my friends who go, how awful we are group E, proably shouldnt even be allowed out in public, we are so common. None of my middle class friends have ever been to Chelsea, Hubby is a highly qualified manual worker how terrible!! We definitely should be allowed to go to Chelsea, wont go again then!
Blimey, did anyone actually listen to his comments. All he said was that when he did interviews there, you didn't get a large cross section of society, it was mainly white middle class people, which given that it's in Chelsea, it's a flower show which has a reputation for being a place 'to be seen', and tickets are between £50 and £100 I imagine is probably true. He didn't for one second suggest that nobody else goes, and certainly didn't suggest that they shouldn't go.
No one said you shouldn’t go if you consider yourself to be working class ... what he was saying is that it’s an opportunity to observe ‘Middle England’ and that’s quite true ... a large proportion of folk there fit into what that describes ... no judgement was being made.
If you’re interested in how this country works, for better or for ill, then observing the various groups/classes, call them what you will, is very interesting.
Another place to watch some distinct social groups in this country is at a county agricultural show ... fascinating. Open to all and affordable to most, but attended by quite a narrow section of society.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
@Nanny Beach No one is saying that particular classes do not, or should not go, but it is a simple fact, that the majority of people who do go, are from the middle classes. I would love to live in a classless society, but I can't see that happening any time soon.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
How many professional, jobbing gardeners do you know - even the ones on big estates - who are not "working" class? They don't earn a fortune but they're interested in plants and gardens and many belong to the RHS and even, god forbid, work on the various plant committees doing trials and providing guidance because they are experts in their fields.
You have to be a "designer" or get on TV to start earning real money in gardening.
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)."
Jellyfire, he didnt say white, surprisingly enough, Punkcdoc, you want a classless society, while I accept some people are cleverer than me, some earn much better money, often ridiculous amounts for very little talent, I cant abide snobs, people who think they are better than anyone else. Mind you, I am not even working class, just a poor old pensioner. I an interested in the occupations of the forum members, please.
Given how many of us are "27" - lots of retired folk. Who cares?
Occupation is no clue to personality which is what counts or knowledge about plants/gardens/life which matter here. Nor do they indicate income levels given that a good plumber, who would be considered "working" class, can earn more than a bank manager who would be considered "middle" class.
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)."
Posts
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
He didn't for one second suggest that nobody else goes, and certainly didn't suggest that they shouldn't go.
If you’re interested in how this country works, for better or for ill, then observing the various groups/classes, call them what you will, is very interesting.
Another place to watch some distinct social groups in this country is at a county agricultural show ... fascinating. Open to all and affordable to most, but attended by quite a narrow section of society.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
No one is saying that particular classes do not, or should not go, but it is a simple fact, that the majority of people who do go, are from the middle classes.
I would love to live in a classless society, but I can't see that happening any time soon.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
You have to be a "designer" or get on TV to start earning real money in gardening.
Occupation is no clue to personality which is what counts or knowledge about plants/gardens/life which matter here. Nor do they indicate income levels given that a good plumber, who would be considered "working" class, can earn more than a bank manager who would be considered "middle" class.
Who said that anyone at Chelsea is better than anyone else ... or that anyone on the forum thinks they are?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.