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Monty Don, the familiar face of Gardeners’ World, has shared his appreciation for a long-standing practice upheld by the show’s producers for many years.
Gardeners’ World has captured the attention of gardening fans nationwide, but Monty Don recently shed light on why the cameras take a break from his Longmeadow garden during the winter season.
In a conversation with Gardeners’ World magazine, Monty provided updates on his Longmeadow garden, explaining that from late October until springtime, the show’s production team packs up their equipment, pausing all filming activities.
As the crew begins to dismantle their setup, Monty described the collective relief felt by everyone at his estate: “We all breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy a few weeks without the pressure of preparing for the next film crew’s visit.”
He also praised his dedicated team, consisting of two full-time gardeners and one part-time helper, who play a crucial role in keeping the garden in tip-top shape according to the rigorous demands of the filming schedule.
Furthermore, he explained how the filming hiatus allows him and his growing family to enjoy more quality time together in the Longmeadow garden.
However, while the cameras and lighting equipment are packed away for the colder months ahead, Monty revealed that, personally, he’s preparing for one of his busiest times of the year.
In the months to come, he plans to tackle the backlog of gardening tasks that have accumulated over the year, saying: “In fact, for the next month or so, we enter the busiest period of our gardening year.”
He stated: “For a start, we can now make a mess — a luxury that we now indulge in. All the housekeeping projects that have accumulated throughout the year can now be tackled.”
Monty has earned a reputation as one of the most esteemed figures in horticulture, appearing on numerous television programmes and authoring several books sharing his gardening wisdom.
However, he is perhaps best known for his time hosting Gardeners’ World, having taken over from Alan Titchmarsh, who stepped away from the show in 2002.
Since assuming the role of lead presenter on the BBC programme in 2003, he has been broadcasting the show from his own Longmeadow garden since 2011.
Gardeners’ World is set to return to ours screens this evening (17 October) at 8 p.m.