I must confess I enjoy the slow pace of GW, the periods of silence bar birdsong and insect hum, the wheelbarrow pushing and dogs snoozing. A peaceful simplicity which appeals to me amidst the nonsense of modern life.
As a complete novice, it seems to me that the content is far more beneficial to the beginner against the members on here who have decades of experience and incredible knowledge. Hence, I find it both calming and educational whilst many find large chunks irritating and without value. A lot of the presentation of football on TV gets on my nerves. Presenters, pundits and commentators who don't know the laws of the game and don't offer any insight. Never mind some of the camera work which defies belief (close up of a ranting, gum-chewing manager on the touchline whilst something interesting is actually happening out of shot on the pitch!) Oh for the days of Des Lynam, Barry Davies and Coleman. But football is my specialist subject (if I possess such a thing) which means I often believe I know better and gain little added value from what is presented to me. Would it be fair to say that something similar is going on with forum members and GW?
There are sections on GW that I don't like so much. I have come to the conclusion that they're the films that seem to be more about the people than the plants. What that says about me, I don't know 🤔.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
It's excellent telly. I really enjoy the bits on historic gardens like the Alton Towers bit last week, and I like Arit's left field segments. I like the aesthetics of how the show is filmed, the tracking shots and little moments between segments. Could do without the repetitive practical instruction bits, which give me a sense of deja vu when they come around again each year. But I accept there are people out there who find the correct pruning of gooseberry cordons riveting... I could do without Monty's expensive tool fetishism. But for me it's usually a pretty good balance of soft focus garden porn and informative content.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
@Biglad - it's interesting that you find it informative. We often get queries on the forum about how something gets started, but not followed up. Novice gardeners regularly complain about not seeing continuation, whether it's growing tomatoes, pruning, taking cuttings or seed sowing. All things that are valuable when you start out. These follow ups take a very short time to do, and so do small hints and tips for those who haven't been gardening very long. Beechgrove always did that - a section lasting a minute or two at most, but full of little tips for people, regardless of where they garden and the size of their plot. It can still be useful for people who have gardened a long time too, as we don't always grow the same plants year in year out, especially if we move to a new area with a different climate and/or soil. From what new forum members say, that seems to be the kind of thing that G'sW is missing, and has been missing for several years.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I too hope Rachel is well and accept she will be isolating but assumed someone from her family could hold the camera.
I fell asleep shortly after the programme started on Friday. Par for the course so I shall watch the recording and use FF. Agree with Ben Cotto and his burnt cakes analogy. With Monty tho we rarely get to see the results of his activities each week and whether the advice or method works. At least Nigella keeps it simple and we know it works.
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 think we'd NOT all agree it's the best show on tv. It might not even be the best gardening programme on tv, and there aren't many of them. There are nuggets of wonderfulness, but so much dull as ditch water padding.
Posts
As a complete novice, it seems to me that the content is far more beneficial to the beginner against the members on here who have decades of experience and incredible knowledge. Hence, I find it both calming and educational whilst many find large chunks irritating and without value. A lot of the presentation of football on TV gets on my nerves. Presenters, pundits and commentators who don't know the laws of the game and don't offer any insight. Never mind some of the camera work which defies belief (close up of a ranting, gum-chewing manager on the touchline whilst something interesting is actually happening out of shot on the pitch!) Oh for the days of Des Lynam, Barry Davies and Coleman. But football is my specialist subject (if I possess such a thing) which means I often believe I know better and gain little added value from what is presented to me. Would it be fair to say that something similar is going on with forum members and GW?
Unfair comparison. At least Monty isn't pouting at the camera every 5 minutes.
These follow ups take a very short time to do, and so do small hints and tips for those who haven't been gardening very long. Beechgrove always did that - a section lasting a minute or two at most, but full of little tips for people, regardless of where they garden and the size of their plot. It can still be useful for people who have gardened a long time too, as we don't always grow the same plants year in year out, especially if we move to a new area with a different climate and/or soil.
From what new forum members say, that seems to be the kind of thing that G'sW is missing, and has been missing for several years.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I fell asleep shortly after the programme started on Friday. Par for the course so I shall watch the recording and use FF. Agree with Ben Cotto and his burnt cakes analogy. With Monty tho we rarely get to see the results of his activities each week and whether the advice or method works. At least Nigella keeps it simple and we know it works.