by Holly Chapman | 17 Apr 26 | Garden Design, News
In a special one-hour BBC Gardeners’ World episode hosted by Monty Don, viewers will be taken through the story of the Queen Elizabeth II Garden as it nears opening.
Airing this evening, Friday 17 April at 8pm, on BBC Two, the programme will document the two years of transformation the garden, located within The Regent’s Park, has undergone.
Soon opening to the public to coincide with the late Queen’s centenary year, London’s newest green space features a two-acre garden which was formally an unused plant nursery.
Created by The Royal Parks in collaboration with HTA Design and Blakedown Landscapes, the garden also includes a wildlife-supporting circular pond and a central flower garden planted with species significant to Queen Elizabeth II.
Fiona Pack, head gardener for the garden, comments:
“Having the Gardeners’ World team with us over two years, from the very first days on site to the final planting, has been incredibly special. We hope the episode gives viewers a real sense of the care, craft and passion that have gone into every corner of this garden, and that it inspires them to come and visit when we open on 27 April.”
The garden opens to the public on Monday 27 April.
A busy year for The Royal Parks, the charity has also recently introduced 130 Prunus ‘Sekiyama’ cherry trees, thanks to the support of the Sakura Cherry Tree Project, to Greenwich Park.
by Holly Chapman | 09 Jul 25 | News
Malvern Autumn Show returns to Three Counties Showground from 26 – 28 September 2025 featuring special guests from Monty Don to Martha Collison.
As well as featuring the CANNA UK National Giant Vegetables Championship and RHS Flower show, the Malvern Autumn Show will also present the Garden Theatre stage, hosted by August Bernstien, head of The Raymond Blanc Gardening School at the two-Michelin-star Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.
Joining Bernstein on the Theatre Stage will be BBC Gardeners’ World presenters Monty Don and Adam Frost for Gardeners Question Time.
Manoj Malde also joins the team on the Theatre Stage where he will be sharing tips on creating wildlife gardens.
The Great Malvern Cake Off tent will be hosted by ITV regular Marcus Bean, also joined by The Great British Bake Off 2014 winner Martha Collison.
The pair will also host author and 2016 winner Candice Brown and 2021 quarter-finalist Lizzie Acker alongside fellow contestant Freya Cox.
by Holly Chapman | 01 Apr 25 | Garden Design, News, RHS Chelsea Flower Show
BBC Gardener’s World Live presenter Monty Don will make his debut at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show this year with a dandelion and clover lawn.
The RHS and BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden designed by Monty Don will feature plant varieties that play homage to low maintenance but hardy domestic lawns.
The turf is currently being grown at RHS Garden Wisley where it will be transported from over to the show in May.
Managing director of Form Plants, the garden’s plant supplier, Jamie Butterworth has been working closely with Don to create a garden that he says is “playful and authentic”, for both dogs and their owners to enjoy.
“The lawn takes centre stage of Chelsea, right in the heart of the garden. Lawns at Chelsea are few and far between. Despite this being the greatest flower show on earth, we don’t need this to be a manicured lawn. We want this to be a modest and familiar lawn.”
The lawn will be the first thing they install, and Butterworth says visitors can look forward to seeing Don himself carrying out the mowing duties at the show.
The garden will also include a dog house, a dog worn sofa and a bespoke throw made from Don’s trousers.
Chief horticulturist at the RHS, Guy Barter says the garden is a reminder that “lawns don’t have to look perfect to be perfect for our pets, or for everyday use and the wider environment.”
With just over a month to go until RHS Chelsea, Butterworth says final touches are being made to the garden, including picking dog names to be inscribed on the garden’s path.
After the show the garden will be relocated to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in London. RHS Chelsea takes place 20 – 24 May 2025.
by Aidan Williams | 22 Oct 24 | Garden Design, News, RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Monty Don is designing his first ever garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show next year, thanks to a collaboration with the RHS and BBC Radio 2.
The project, titled the RHS and Radio 2 Dog Garden, aims to bring a garden for dogs to RHS Chelsea Flower Show to lift people’s spirits and celebrate the country’s love of dogs and gardens.
Monty Don will be creating this with the team at Form Plants, led by plant expert and horticulturist Jamie Butterworth and after the show the garden will live on at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.
Monty Don says: “This is an irresistible opportunity to join with the RHS and Radio 2 to share my love of gardens and dogs at the world’s greatest horticultural event.
“Along with the superb team headed by Jamie Butterworth we shall be making a garden that is inspired by Longmeadow and my own dogs but above all a celebration of the way that so many of us share our gardens with our canine companions.”
Monty wants the garden to be exemplary of both of the things that dogs love regardless of horticultural fashion, and a beautiful space that any dog owner would love.
The garden is also part of the RHS ‘Your Space, Your Story’ initiative, which will champion the individuality of all gardeners.
Whether people are passionate about growing their own food or crave a children’s play area, over the course of 2025 the RHS will celebrate how outdoor spaces can bring to life every person’s passion from pet-friendly sanctuaries to small urban havens.
One of the nation’s favourite radio presenters and keen gardener, Jo Whiley, will be championing the garden on Radio 2 encouraging listeners to choose songs for a special doggy playlist, which will play in a beautiful hipped-roof summer house within The RHS and Radio 2 Dog Garden.
At the centre of the garden will be a neatly mown lawn, which whilst tended, is essential for canine sprawling, sleeping, rolling, flopping, itching and chasing balls. A large tree will cast shade on the grass to stretch out on a warm afternoon.
The lawn will drift into longer grass planted with ornamental spring flowering bulbs to create more of a tameflower meadow than a wildflower meadow. Brick paths run straight creating vistas – a touch of longmeadow – with one providing the route through the garden for visitors and another at right angles to this leading to the summerhouse.
The paths will be inscribed with the names of dogs belonging to Radio 2 presenters and RHS ambassadors, as well as of course Monty’s beloved dog Ned and Her Majesty The Queen’s adopted Jack Russell terriers, Beth and Bluebell, will also feature on the path.
Within the The RHS and Radio 2 Dog Garden a sectioned off area will be a place for humans to enjoy a beautiful tapestry of plants, and for dogs to visit only when supervised by their human owners.
This space will raise awareness of certain plants that are toxic to dogs and other pets. Here there will be a mixture of planting of familiar yet favourite plants, as well as a distinct theme of balls with lots of alliums and topiary balls of different sizes and kinds.
“It’s exciting to be working with Radio 2 and Monty Don to create a garden that celebrates the connection between two of the UK’s greatest loves – dogs and gardens,” Clare Matterson, RHS director general.
“Nothing lifts us like a beautiful garden, and then, for a little bit of extra joy, we’ve added some wagging tails.
“Over 2025 we really want to celebrate how we’re here for all gardeners; dog lovers, families, keen cooks, houseplant fanatics, everyone, and this garden is a great example of how individuals can all bring to life their passions in their outside spaces.”
