Gardener's World to move?

[TEB]

As I don't know the man personally I am unable to comment on his friendliness or indeed if he is approachable. However Knowledge is not a matter of opinion. I have not seen him impart one piece of useful information, and he certainly doesn't speak with the authority of some one who really knows their subject from years of experiance (like Alan or Geoff). And on practical demonstrations he is risable.

He may have had an allotment and worked on a tacky, make-over, quick fix, go to the garden centre show.... but I barely think that qualifies you for anything...they might as well ask Charlie Dimmock. theres enough of the vacuous shows and presenters already...Why should GW be dumbed down to the lowest common denominator?

Apart from the episode on 'Breakfast' the other day. Where a real gardener
would always have a knife in his pocket (eg Monty). He rips open this bag of raspberry canes spraying compost everywhere...and so its a bare rooted cane Toby...nothing to say on the subject at all.

Another example...planting tulips in aquatic basket...Old trick seen Rachel de T and AT do it... filling the basket 1/2 full grit and compost...placing bulbs in and filling up with topsoil from the border. Toby tries to pass this off as his top original tip and puts a great clod of earth from the border into overflowing basket and then proceeds to try and ram the tulips into the claggy clay. All the dexterity of a donkey with boxing gloves on.

Perhaps he is easy on the eye for the ladies but I seriously doubt he has the charisma or gravitas to front a team and keep the horticulturally more aware tuning into what was afterall, an institution. Shame I think.

Quite agree to all this, and while their at it get rid off Carol giggling twittering hyena Klein, bring back Chris Beardshaw, Sarah Raven, sorry feel better now.

[Paulottie]

I liked Monty too, Came from his jewellery business in Sloane square..through financial ruin to pick himself up and share his passion for gardening. Not perhaps as authoritative as his predecessors...but he got stuck in (definately a worker) and was just so keen (not in a gushy Carol Klein way). I think he wants to make this a better world - to help and believe in people (liked his slightly unsuccessful rehab project). It was a joy to see his brand of common sense again on Question time the other night. I am glad he's on the mend.

Yes, TEB I had that one brewing for a while too...good to get it off my chest!

[Norburger]

I say fair play to the beeb as they are under alot of pressure at the moment to make value for money programming and I think just reading a times article on this that the new approach will suit a wider audience and not just those with a half acre to play with.

There is also going to be a heavy feature on grow your on veg so should suit us newbies down to the ground.

Interview with gardener Toby Buckland - Times Online

I am quite keen to something new.

[smallblueplanet]

As I don't know the man personally I am unable to comment on his friendliness or indeed if he is approachable...

Its easy to see from the way he communicates.

Perhaps he is easy on the eye for the ladies...

Yeah, cos thats all we bother about...giggle...blush...giggle. *yawn

Interview - Toby Buckland, presenter, BBC Gardeners' World | Log in to Horticulture Week

[Paulottie]

I say fair play to the beeb as they are under alot of pressure at the moment to make value for money programming and I think just reading a times article on this that the new approach will suit a wider audience and not just those with a half acre to play with.

Can't see that renting a whole new field..lots more than an acre and starting from scratch is going to save much dosh....but then i'd be interested to know what financial arrangement was over berryfields. I think their policy has always been to create many smaller garden within a larger area.

Yeah, cos thats all we bother about...giggle...blush...giggle. *yawn

Well, as I said, he's a ham fisted twit so I can't imagine any other reason to watch him.

[Peter]

Quoting the BBC site "transforming a muddy grassy playing field into the nation's new back garden"

Er, who's playing field?

[Paulottie]

Here Mister can we have our ball back!

[smallblueplanet]

Well, as I said, he's a ham fisted twit so I can't imagine any other reason to watch him.

I can see that a lack of imagination might be a problem for you.

[Paulottie]

Well Manda....neither a weak attempt to imply I'm a patronising chauvinist nor being directly rude have managed to persuade me that Toby Buckland is an inspiring and knowledgeable front man to GW.... nor have you diminished my enjoyment of exercising my right to voice an opinion that differs from yours.

So as you obviously have not the evidence or wit to debate the subject.... YAH BOO SUCKS to you too.

[smallblueplanet]

So as you obviously have not the evidence or wit to debate the subject.... YAH BOO SUCKS to you too.

You see, it's just that I can't manage to be as openly rude as you.

[piskieinboots]

And whilst I haven't got the inclination of SBP and Paulottie following a large slug of red - Toby isn't 'for the ladies' - Toby is knowledgable and entertaining ....in fact, I would place him almost in line for being Son of Geoff Hamilton in his thinking

[daleclarke]

Well, as I said, he's a ham fisted twit so I can't imagine any other reason to watch him

One thing he is not, his garden, designed for the Birmingham Gardeners World show (Gold) was a brilliant and a clever designed garden using driftwood, and other recycled items and showed no twitness about it see quote below.

This is what the garden press said

At Gardeners’ World Live in June Toby designed, built and planted The Ethical Garden, made from recycled materials he collected and handcrafted from beaches and the countryside in the West Country where he lives. His garden not only won a coveted RHS Gold Medal but also won Best Show Garden. His creativity and attention to detail was outstanding, demonstrating just how much he cares about his gardening.

Furthermore, Toby has served his time as a gardener and I personally like his quiet unassuming and family orientated style and thoroughly enjoyed his column on vegetables within Amateur Gardening, which they have made into a special which I have thoroughly enjoyed.

As for a new field as a format, excellent news finally a start from scratch that involves a bit of veggie planting. Here is hoping he goes for star shaped beds and loads of stuff that are against the norm. Berryfields was leased for the show and the home it is at is at now is up for sale, this was how it was explained on the BBC forums, last year.

[HeyWayne]

Crikey - I thought you meant moving time slots! Thought my Friday nights - curry, glass of vino de plonko and GW was going to be all messed up.

Wait, Bean's already done that...

[zazen999]

I think the move is a great idea...lets hope we can follow the progress rather than them bring the big guns in for a swift revamp.

I still prefer Monty to Toby...and before him I liked Percy best. But, you get what you've got...

What I find totally ridiculous is cutting money spent on gardening programmes at the very point that growing your own veg becomes popular again. Lets hope once the new plot is established they increase the amount of veg growing airtime, not reduce it.

Although the garden change does explain the later start this year...

[krazy_krok]

Anyone would think were hafl way through the season with the comments and thoughts. Monty was a legend and will be such a hard act to follow, but I refuse to form an opinion when the show hasn'st even been aired once yet. I've always found Toby to be very good at explaining things and too thought his articles on veg growing in Amatuer gardener were of the highest standard. Loved his practicality too when he built the simple Cloche on GW really inspired me to make my own. The pressure is really on him with the budget cut but having a brand new project which he'll be leading he can put his own personel touch on it.
But it could all fall flat on it's face time will tell