Beloved gardening icon Alan Titchmarsh has shared a heartfelt revelation about facing the twilight years of his life, revealing his decision to downsize due to the demands of maintaining a large garden. The 76-year-old horticulturist, alongside his wife Alison, has placed their £3.9 million Georgian mansion on the market. This decision comes as he acknowledges the challenges of managing such an expansive property in his later years.

The couple’s stunning residence, acquired in 2002, is nestled in Holybourne, near Alton, Hants. Although the mansion dates back to the 1960s, Alan has significantly renovated it over time. Reflecting on this major life change, he told BBC Gardeners’ World magazine, “Why move? Well… it’s simply time. As we get older, it’s often wise to consider downsizing.”

While Alan initially had no intentions of relocating, he now admits that both he and Alison are “getting on a bit.” With a touch of humor, he added, “Despite what my age suggests, I like to think of the future as long and fulfilling.”

His desire is to tend to a more manageable garden as the years progress, ensuring that he can continue to enjoy his passion without it becoming a burden.

Alan expressed, “There will come a day when it all becomes too much, and I’d prefer to transition to a new chapter before reaching that point.”

Alan insisted he is not retiring and will “miss” his old garden, explaining: “After making the decision, I hummed and haa-ed about the wisdom of it all.

“But once sound reasoning convinced me this was not giving in and winding down, but simply taking on a new challenge – a challenge that was do-able in the long term – the apprehension was replaced by excitement.”

He acknowledges that the new owners of his property will “do their own thing” with the garden – as they must.