Monty Don's British Gardens is a 5 part series featuring our favourite TV Gardener Monty Don that was first shown in BBC2 on Friday 10 January 2025.
The series over the 5 episodes sees Monty visiting 60 gardens all over the United Kingdom in the most comprehensive coverage of Great Britain's much loved Gardens as well as hidden gems.
This hour long programme starts on the North West Coast of Scotland and in the final episode ends up in the South West of England.
Strangely they are making all episodes available to watch after the first episode has screened on 10 January 2025.
Monty has had a very busy year filming the 60 gardens for this series, as well as publishing a new book, a Book Tour and all this on top of presenting Gardner's' World as usual.
This series Monty has likened to his last one Monty Don's Spanish Gardens due to the diversity of climates found in the British Isles which effects what can be grown successfully in each region.
Monty has previously done a series on British Gardens in 2015 where he visited gardens for his 4 part series The Secret History of the British Garden.
In this series he looked at the history of the gardens starting in the 17th Century and looking at changes over the next 400 years , which each episode devoted to a Century.
I think when we think of the different regions that Monty is visiting we can all think of well known and favourite gardens we have visited that should be included, but there are so many of them I wonder how many are going to be in this series?
I will update each episode as they are revealed and hope to find out as the series goes on some new hidden gems to visit!
Special Guests
Episode 1
Will Soos and Sue Pomeroy
Edith Barnes
School Children of Kinnesswood Primary
Ewen Donaldson
Nigel Neil
Lizz Spence
Hana Tadafe-Swinscoe
George Gilliland
Robert and Anna Dalrymple
Duchess Jane Northumberland
Gardens visited
Episode 1
There are so many gardens in Scotland but Monty started his tour of Scotland at the stunning Inverewe Gardens and ended this section of his journey in the North East England at Alnwick Castle with its famous Water Cascade.
On his way down the country he visited Castles like Drummond Castle with it exceptional Topiary and Chillingham Castle that was restored from ruin using original photographs of the garden.
He visited small gardens Like Durnamuck that had to adapt to the climate and a whole Village that takes pride in their gardens at Kinnesswood.
Monty visited a restored Glasshouse in Glasgow and a Community Garden project with the name of Jock Tamson's Garden as well as a hidden park only open to residents.
Little Sparta and Crawick Multiverse were gardens to make you think with their combination of art and science and the odd puzzle!
There was gardens started from nothing by keen gardeners like at Dr Neil's Garden and Broadwoodside.
Monty visited a garden fit for a King and Queen when visiting the Royal Residence of Birkhall and exploring their private garden.
This episode was packed with interesting, well known and some not so known gardens making it a wonderful start to Monty Don's British Gardens.
Special Guests
Episode 2
Jim Lowther
Peter Tasker
Chris Crowder
Brid Ruddy
Martina O'Toole
Neil Porteous
Mike Buffin
Professor Nigel Dunnett
Colin and Marylen ParkerGraeme Watson
Andy Karavics
Miranda Legard
Tom Stuart-Smith
Gardens visited
Episode 2
Monty started his tour of Northern England at the ruins of Lowther Castle before popping into the home of Beatrix Potter at Hill Tops to see the vegetable garden where Peter Rabbit got up to mischief!
Next it was Topiary at Levens Hall before going across the Sea to Northern Ireland to visit to Alley rejuvenation projects in Belfast, Wildflower Alley and Eden Alley.
Glenarm Castle was his next stop to a new walled garden before heading to Mount Stewart to see some concrete Monkeys and hear plans for moving the garden to save it from climate change flooding!
Back over to England and a wasteland in Manchester thats now a popular park at Mayfield then into Yorkshire to meet Climate resistant Pioneer, Professor Nigel Dunnett in his garden at Bramblewood Cottage to learn how to protect our gardens from climate change.
A huge 20 acre garden next called Breezy Knees which was the result of a 'mid life crisis' and it is outstanding before becoming the prize giver at Egton Bridge Gooseberry Show.
Scampston Hall which is being restored to its former glory with endless hedges and garden rooms before ending the programme at Chatsworth again undergoing restoration of its Gothic Rockery and a 15 acre area called Arcadia!
Certainly a good mix of gardens in this episode and plenty of ideas, although on a smaller scale to protect our gardens from Climate Change and to add something quirky into the shrubbery!
Special Guests
Episode 3
Lesley Jenkins
Lawrence Edwards
Val Turton
Tony Taylor
Jake Croft
Nabila Winter
Adrian Bloom
Cel Robertson
Sir David the Marquess of Cholmondeley
Gardens visited
Episode 3
Foggy BottomMonty Journey in Episode 3 started in Wales at the amazing Bodnant, a truely breath taking garden then moved to a garden with a view at Plas yn Rhiw.
Across the Border to England and a magical garden next at Wollerton Old Hall, full of hidden views and the theatrical touches before going to Biddulph Grange where things got really strange at a huge cost to the creator!
Allotment time next with 3 very different takes on Allotment life at St Ann's Allotments.
Lamport Hall with it Walled garden of flowers and a owner that brought us Gnomes, love them or hate them, or even shoot them then off to a City Mosque open to all and garden that spills out into the community.
Beth Chatto's famous garden next, before her time for climate adaptation and getting the planting right before visiting another famous name at Foggy Bottom for the invention of the garden island bed.
Flowers for Weddings and to buy at Forever Green Flower Company before ending the garden journey at Houghton Hall where once the House was all that was important but now the magnificent gardens are just as stunning.
Monty trip across the middle was an insight into some famous amazing gardens, some people with a real passion for their own space and garden dream, some quirky gardens and a million pound Gnome.
Episode 4 The Home Counties and London
Special Guests
Episode 4
Olivia Harrison
Rosamund Wallinger
Diana Everett
Sarah Raven
David Austin
Kit Davies
Fabrice Boltho
Doris Owuasoanya
Abbie Hanson
Andy Sturgeon
Tamsin Saunders
Andre Tranquilini
Isabella Tree
Dylan Walker
Charlotte Molesworth
Fergus Garrett
Gardens visited
Episode 4
Garden Barge Dove Pier
Garden Shed Richmond
Episode 5 The South West of England
Special Guests
Episode 5
Andrew and Jordi Doman
Koos Bekker
Alasdair Forbes
Cyril Harris
Keith Wiley
Sir Tim Smit
Clive and Will & the Graveyard Volunteers
Darren Dickey
Christina Shand
Gardens visited
Episode 5
Monty will not only be looking at conventional gardens but will also exploring the unusual and questioning what even is classed as a garden.
From extravagant gardens to simple allotments, gardens in harsh climates where they have had to adapt to dry gardens and even gardens on a boat!
Monty is looking at all different tastes and styles and rumour has it, he is even covering the British Garden Gnome!
After many other series of gardens abroad, this series is long awaited and will be interesting to see what of the many amazing places there are in the United Kingdom which ones make it into Monty Don's British Gardens
Episode 1 Scotland and Northumberland 10 January 2025
Episode 2 North of England to Northern Ireland 17 January 2025
Episode 3 The Middle - Wales to Norfolk 24 January 2025
Episode 4 31 January 2025
Episode 5 07 February 2025
All Photographs are copyright of BBC.com
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