Monty Don has highlighted a garden in Oxfordshire among the nation’s finest, as the television presenter and writer unveils his latest selection of remarkable British horticultural spaces.
The Gardener’s World presenter and gardening author rounds up exceptional British gardens he has personally visited for his new publication, British Gardens.
His adventures have taken him far and wide, spanning locations from the frozen expanses of the Arctic to the sun-baked plains of the Australian interior, the dense vegetation of the Amazon basin to the meticulously landscaped grounds of Japan.
Currently working on the newest season of Gardener’s World at his Herefordshire residence, Longmeadow, the 70-year-old presenter and his team must accommodate the unpredictable British weather during filming.
The presenter explained that he wishes viewers would imagine the camera simply appearing and capturing him wandering casually through his garden before popping over to see fellow presenters Adam Frost or Carol Klein engaged in other horticultural activities, before wrapping up after an hour.
The actual scenario involves a substantial production crew, weeks of groundwork, two days of actual filming and six days of post-production work, representing a considerable undertaking.
Between filming sessions, which occur twice weekly, the team must also ready the garden for upcoming shoots.
For both the presenter and his colleagues, this preparation feels akin to returning to education.
Despite these demanding commitments, the broadcaster and author managed to complete a lavish coffee table publication titled British Gardens, accompanying his previous BBC series.
He explores the impressive and the modest, the hidden and the accessible, examining both the nuanced details and the striking features that distinguish our most notable gardens.
Among his chosen highlights is Rousham, situated at Rousham House close to Bicester in Oxfordshire.
The presenter describes this as one of the finest gardens ever designed, calling it an unparalleled example of landscape garden design and the most significant surviving specimen of the landscape movement, surpassing any of Capability Brown’s creations.
Dating from the 1730s, it predates Brown’s work by approximately 25 years and remains virtually unaltered, with the presenter noting that no modification could enhance its character.
The site welcomes visitors, though with some unconventional restrictions. Prominent signage prohibits dogs and children under 15, a policy that frustrates certain visitors, though the presenter suggests accepting these conditions.
The garden features predominantly evergreen planting complemented by sculptural elements and water features.
Spanning venues from Scotland down to Cornwall and locations throughout, the presenter also shared his thoughts on what distinguishes British horticulture.
He identified climate as the primary factor, claiming Britain possesses the most suitable conditions for cultivating an extensive variety of plants compared to any other nation, despite constant complaining about the weather.
His second point centred on the nation’s passion for gardening. He disputed Napoleon’s characterisation of Britain as a nation of merchants, asserting it is actually a nation of gardeners.
Despite younger generations aged under 30 or 35 increasingly struggling to secure homeownership and consequently their own outdoor spaces, the presenter noted that 83 percent of the population still has access to a garden.
This figure has declined from over 90 percent 25 years ago, though it remains notably high.
The practice of gardening transcends social boundaries of class, ethnicity, gender and generation, serving as a unifying force across British society.