Sorry @Dollystocks8 but you're on a hiding to nothing here.
Some of us have been watching GW for 40 years or more and have seen it go thru several re-incarnations. I find that even when it's a professional production team and camera person the bits in Monty's garden are badly shot and don't show what he's doing clearly and nor is there follow-up of processes such as sowing, pricking out, potting on and planting out so it's not instructive and it needs to be that as well as interesting and show some beautiful plants and gardens.
Given they've had thousands of videos sent I find the selection shown each week is quite lazy - showing children gardening is fine as long as they're inspiring. Just being "cute" is not enough. Any other video shown needs to be inspiring too and show what can be done with imagination, ingenuity and know-how. I don't want to see junk yards or weed infested gardens with just one point of possible but uncertain interest. Why would I believe anything such a person has to say when the rest is clearly a disaster?
Monty's garden is claustrophobic. I join @floralies in her inclination to weep at that paradise garden and how often has he redesigned that mound just to do it all again a year or two later? He may be a good, practical, experienced and eloquent gardener but he hasn't got the horticultural or design credentials to get such projects right and it's not just a question of tastes differing. Far too many people on these boards can forecast the likely results.
Have to be an optimist to be a gardener so we live in hope of good bits.
People on the forum love to moan about GW and bang the dismal drum and hate on Monty. I am loving it. In running a community gardening club, it is the perfect learning medium for newbies (like me) - inspiring them, helping learning and sharing ideas. Yes, if you have run your own garden company, have gardened for 90 years and love to pick holes, you are probably too kool for skool.
@amancalledgeorge and Dove, I completely understand your argument about encouraging diversity and getting as many involved as possible in gardening. My issue is that I just find most viewers’ videos too mundane. There have been exceptions, the Danish garden, the Canadian garden and the front garden brimming with annuals are three that come to mind, but I get tired of clips that insert irrelevancies just to catch the producer’s eye.
I would like some of the features curtailed as I found last night’s piece on the wildlife garden too long and the Caribbean garden, delightful as it was, could still have taken some pruning. And as for that piece on Alton Towers a couple of weeks back, dull from first to last. Time saved could be devoted to more in depth ‘how to’ coverage with regular updates at each point in the growing season.
I do not envy the producers’ task of keeping all happy. On balance I think they do a pretty fine job but I would make changes and, as I say, viewers’ videos would only feature if they were worthwhile. I do not watch Match of the Day to see highlights of Oakham Town’s match and don’t tune in to cookery programmes to see burnt cakes and curdled sauces - I can do that on my own.
Personally I really enjoy the show. Some parts are hard to access, especially the garden historian sections as I clearly don't have the base of knowledge or reference to "get it" (although the Alton Towers bit was fascinating).
Adam Frost....is....great.... and definitely more relatable.... to a regular.....garden.... and gardener.... Even if...the..... staccato delivery....makes me chuckle (you're reading this in his voice now, aren't you).
With millions of viewers in a prime slot, it's never going to please everybody, but it's an enjoyable hour of TV that can be informative, inspiring, and a counter to the general reality tv nonsense that's usually on.
Beechgrove, however, I find to be mostly boring. To me it's 4 people doing a hobby you tube video on gardening, and who are almost as surprised as the rest of us that they managed to land a tv show. No doubt they know their stuff, but it's not particularly inspiring or useful. The last section I caught seemed to be about how to water an orchid - really? Google will tell you that in seconds.
Now the Alan Titchmarsh grow-at-home series screened a few months ago (I don't recall the title, it was the one with the Love your Garden team) - that was great. Direct, interesting, practical. That should become a series.
@amancalledgeorge and Dove, I completely understand your argument about encouraging diversity and getting as many involved as possible in gardening. My issue is that I just find most viewers’ videos too mundane. There have been exceptions, the Danish garden, the Canadian garden and the front garden brimming with annuals are three that come to mind, but I get tired of clips that insert irrelevancies just to catch the producer’s eye.
I would like some of the features curtailed as I found last night’s piece on the wildlife garden too long and the Caribbean garden, delightful as it was, could still have taken some pruning. And as for that piece on Alton Towers a couple of weeks back, dull from first to last. Time saved could be devoted to more in depth ‘how to’ coverage with regular updates at each point in the growing season.
I do not envy the producers’ task of keeping all happy. On balance I think they do a pretty fine job but I would make changes and, as I say, viewers’ videos would only feature if they were worthwhile. I do not watch Match of the Day to see highlights of Oakham Town’s match and don’t tune in to cookery programmes to see burnt cakes and curdled sauces - I can do that on my own.
Says you Alan Titshmarsh 🙄 You never forgave Monty for taking over Chelsea😡😁
@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.
I agree. Even with my lack of knowledge I can see that all the dots aren't necessarily joined up but, because I know nothing, any hints, tips or methodology are invaluable. For the rest, I can post on here!!! Also, I'm primarily looking to cultivate fruit and veg at the moment so large chunks of the programme just wash over me. Aesthetically appealing but not much actually going in as I'm not really concentrating!
Yes,agree strelitzia, loved the little Alan show.Oh dear, not keen on Adam, I go and put the kettle on when he comes on.Sorry, I don't want a 'bus stop' man droning on about drone stuff. ( Please note, I wish him no harm😐)
Posts
Adam Frost....is....great.... and definitely more relatable.... to a regular.....garden.... and gardener.... Even if...the..... staccato delivery....makes me chuckle (you're reading this in his voice now, aren't you).
With millions of viewers in a prime slot, it's never going to please everybody, but it's an enjoyable hour of TV that can be informative, inspiring, and a counter to the general reality tv nonsense that's usually on.
Beechgrove, however, I find to be mostly boring. To me it's 4 people doing a hobby you tube video on gardening, and who are almost as surprised as the rest of us that they managed to land a tv show. No doubt they know their stuff, but it's not particularly inspiring or useful. The last section I caught seemed to be about how to water an orchid - really? Google will tell you that in seconds.
Now the Alan Titchmarsh grow-at-home series screened a few months ago (I don't recall the title, it was the one with the Love your Garden team) - that was great. Direct, interesting, practical. That should become a series.