Monty Dons Big Dreams Small Spaces

[Jay-ell]

I've just been watching the first program in Monty Don's new show "Big Dreams Small Places.

I enjoyed the show and was interested in both gardens but I can't help thinking "so where are the small places then?"

This is something I've seen in a lot of gardening programmes with the presenter saying that they are visiting a small town garden as the camera pans down a 3000 square foot patch.

Is the series going to live up to its title and show a 12' by 5' postage stamp converted into an outdoor entertaining/childrens play area whilst still having the path, a man hole cover, 2 wheelie bins and a stack of recycling boxes to cope with?

[GardenGayle]

I liked it but as Im planning on setting up raised beds next year I was a bit disappointed it didn't go into the ground preparation for, building of and filling of the raised beds, they were just suddenly up, full and ready to go.

I'll definitely watch it again though

[Jay-ell]

They probably would have had to focus on one garden a show to focus on the nitty gritty.

Of course then it would have been Grand Designs in the garden. It would have been nice to see more of the beds, including why they chose to arrange them out like that (which I assume was to fit in the space of the path)

[Florence Fennel]

I saw it was on, but I've kind of fallen out with garden makeover programmes with no veg, so I dismissed it. Maybe I should have recorded it and taken a look.

[Thelma Sanders]

I spose it is a small garden in comparison to his own *wry smile*

[Glutton4...]

Bummocks! Missed it.

However, I would probably be biased - Monty could read the telephone directory, and I'd sit and listen...

[Bren In Pots]

I watched it on Iplayer but didn't like how they kept jumping between the two gardens, but apart from that it was watchable.

[KevinM67]

Big Dreams Small Spaces - BBC 2

Did anyone watch this last night?

If you did - what were thoughts ?

[VolesAteMyPeas]

It's for people with big budgets! It was fairly interesting but not of much interest from a veg growing point of view. I too wondered where the "small spaces" were. My main thought about the small holding garden was that there was so much space wasted. All that empty gravelled ground and a lawn yet only five or so piddling little raised beds.

[KevinM67]

It's for people with big budgets! It was fairly interesting but not of much interest from a veg growing point of view. I too wondered where the "small spaces" were. My main thought about the small holding garden was that there was so much space wasted. All that empty gravelled ground and a lawn yet only five or so piddling little raised beds.

Totally agree - my thoughts exactly.

[Guest]

It's for people with big budgets! .

I thought it was just me. So many garden make over programmes have budgets in the thousands. Can't wait for the one that struggles with a few hundred quid and has to rely on the beg, steal and borrow method

[VolesAteMyPeas]

Everything structural on my plot is from a skip, donated or from abandoned plots! That includes almost all the plants too actually.

[Guest]

I am the same. Yes I treat myself but the majority is hard graft and asking around.

Oh and I forgot. Is there actually anyone here brave enough or daft enough to spend £600 on a plant

[Martin H]

I did spend £60 on a plant once, but it wasn't easy to hand over the money!

I enjoyed the first episode. Both couples worked really well together and created something they were very happy with.

I have reservations about both of the finished gardens, mind you. The productive garden had a surprisingly small proportion of land actually devoted to growing edibles. I would have packed in lots more beds. The planting in the Portuguese-style garden was rather flat and featureless, apart obviously from that large and rather incongruous palm tree. Maybe if they had planted in ribbons to lead the eye through the space?

But as I say, the creators seemed happy enough and that's the important thing.

[veggiechicken]

Everything structural on my plot is from a skip, donated or from abandoned plots! That includes almost all the plants too actually.

Much the same here - in the garden.
We need a sort of "Scrapheap Gardens Challenge" programme.
Haven't watched the programme so can't comment on it but anything that involves big money is not my style of gardening.