I cannot believe that Alys Fowler has been let go by the BBC Gardeners World - she will be sadly missed! You can see how many people follow her just be checking on the xmas presents she mentioned in her guardian weekend column on 4the december - all of them sold out for xmas. The japanese hoe she mentions is sold out till march .. there is large, young, interested, environmentally interested gardening crowd out there that feel represented by Alys - woe her back, BBC!! You need her to attract new audiences. And she went so well with Monty in the past.
I honestly cannot believe what i am reading. Is their really a divide between experienced and novice gardeners? As an oldie myself I am delighted to help a new gardener and am wise enough to acknowledge the learning of trained gardeners. As for the people who find growing vegetables boring - perhaps their palates have been ruined by shop-tired veg. They would have changed their minds if they had seen the beautifully- laid out veg garden at the Bristol University Botanic Garden this year, artistic it certainly was, and the choice veg. they grew were an eye-opener and not available in any shop. I have never tasted such lettuce as "Catalonga" or even seen some of the veg. they grew.
Can't believe that Toby Buckland is being pushed out of GW to give Monty Don his old job back. Why?? MD became so boring, arrogant and condescending during his time as presenter. He was always banging on about composting, organic gardening, growing veg (and more veg) and planting up huge borders with obscure plants that HE was passionate about. Most of us live in the real world Monty - not the celebrity world with acres of land and unlimited funds. What about the normal, everyday gardeners (the majority of the public)who only have a moderately sized garden and who want ideas that are achievable to make the garden look attractive, colourful and smell wonderful? A place where they can sit and relax, where the kids and dog can play. We don't all have room for 6 compost heaps at various stages of development, vegetable plots, raised or otherwise, that are bigger than most people's back gardens, greenhouses the size of houses and, if we see blackfly, aphids or the dreaded lily beetles, we want to zap them and get rid of them a.s.a.p. not talk to them and hope that they will move on and leave our precious plants alone.
Toby Buckland is a hands on, practical, knowledgeable and sensible gardener with a really friendly approach who was encouraging gardeners, young and old, experienced or totally new to the hobby, to get out into their gardens to do things that were actually possible, practical and affordable. The important word here being HOBBY.
Most of the posts applauding MD's return seem to be coming from people who believe that they are far too experienced to need any advice at this 'down to earth' level. Perhaps they should be attending horticultural courses instead of watching Friday night prime time TV and spoiling what has developed into a far more interesting and enjoyable Gardeners' World program since Toby took over.
And Rachel de Tame - no comment!!
We pay the licence fee, why didn't the BBC ask the viewers for their opinion or possibly even for them to vote for the presenter they most wanted?
Well at long last the BBC have seen sense. Toby's dumbed down approach saw me and many others switch off from GW - a decision I did not take lightly. I am relishing the return of Monty and some gardening for those of us with established gardens! And back to presenting from the presenter's own garden rather than a manufactured set - long may it continue.
I'm so pleased Monty is coming back he's a superb presenter with mountains of knowledge covering the whole spectrum of gardening, his voice and manner is so friendly and relaxing, and Rachel is great too, a real asset to the show. I stopped watching when Monty left (apart from the Carol/Joe one-offs) but I'll be watching every episode in the 2011 series!
WOAH... Hold on to your trowels a minute. Some people seem to be jumping to conclusions here. YOU DON'T KNOW Toby has been "Dumped" by the BBC. He might have decided to move onto other projects instead.
I'm delighted Monty is coming back. Toby use to make me angry the way here threw tools around (no care taken or respect). Alys was too hippy like for me. My ideal Gardener's World team would be, Geoff Hamilton Monty Don, Carole Klein Chris Beardshaw But we all cannot have what we want. I would however like an axplanation from the BBC as the what is now going to happen to Greenacres. I feel I'm owed at least a few free cuttings as I've paid for them through my licence fee. Roll on spring time I cannot wait for the new series
Best news I've heard for ages. perhaps G W will be worth watching again now. Will be great ot get Monty back with all his enthusiasem for gardening of all sorts. Would be nice to keep Alys though!! Is Joe Swift the son of Hyacinth and Richard Buckett that we never saw on Keeping up Appearances??
Posts
I can now work on my own plot on friday nights
GOOD BYE G W.
Welcome back Monty.
Toby Buckland is a hands on, practical, knowledgeable and sensible gardener with a really friendly approach who was encouraging gardeners, young and old, experienced or totally new to the hobby, to get out into their gardens to do things that were actually possible, practical and affordable. The important word here being HOBBY.
Most of the posts applauding MD's return seem to be coming from people who believe that they are far too experienced to need any advice at this 'down to earth' level. Perhaps they should be attending horticultural courses instead of watching Friday night prime time TV and spoiling what has developed into a far more interesting and enjoyable Gardeners' World program since Toby took over.
And Rachel de Tame - no comment!!
We pay the licence fee, why didn't the BBC ask the viewers for their opinion or possibly even for them to vote for the presenter they most wanted?
YOU DON'T KNOW Toby has been "Dumped" by the BBC. He might have decided to move onto other projects instead.
I'm delighted Monty is coming back. Toby use to make me angry the way here threw tools around (no care taken or respect). Alys was too hippy like for me.
My ideal Gardener's World team would be,
Geoff Hamilton
Monty Don,
Carole Klein
Chris Beardshaw
But we all cannot have what we want.
I would however like an axplanation from the BBC as the what is now going to happen to Greenacres. I feel I'm owed at least a few free cuttings as I've paid for them through my licence fee.
Roll on spring time I cannot wait for the new series
Will be great ot get Monty back with all his enthusiasem for gardening of all sorts.
Would be nice to keep Alys though!!
Is Joe Swift the son of Hyacinth and Richard Buckett that we never saw on Keeping up Appearances??