INTERVIEW
have moved from those rhododendrons
to prairie planting, and now there is
more emphasis on perennials than
there used to be. Architecturally it
is much more sophisticated; and for
me the best gardens are those that
use architecture and plants in equal
measure to complement one another.
The range and scope of materials
as possible but occasionally you come
adrift by tripping down a step when
doing a piece to camera or nearly
falling in some water.”
This year's show includes 15
spectacular Show Gardens, 11 Fresh
Gardens demonstrating the best of
contemporary garden design, and eight
Artisan Gardens. There are also 150
offered other things as well.”
He recently brought out his latest
book ‘My Secret Garden’ explaining:
“When we moved 10 years ago from
the home where we did Gardeners’
World, I promised my wife and family
the garden we now have would be
ours, it wouldn’t be for filming.” Now
it’s a book instead!
Amid his hectic schedule Alan is also
writing another fiction novel, which
will be his ninth, and he hopes it will
be published in the autumn.
The first Royal Horticultural Society Great
Spring Show was held in 1862 at the RHS
garden in Kensington. Before that date the
RHS held flower shows from 1833 in their
garden in Chiswick.
now in hard-landscaping are so much
greater.”
He smiled: “A lot more is spent on
Show gardens these days. I managed to
get a gold medal in 1985 and charged
the magazine I made the garden for,
including labour, the princely sum
of £8,500. Nowadays they run well
into the £250,000 and beyond price
bracket. But they are still made in 21
days which is remarkable.”
Alan has a home in Cowes and still
visits the Island as often as possible
with wife Alison. He keeps an eye for
any Isle of Wight Gardens at the Show,
saying: “I always do my bit to try to
promote them.” He reckons he has had
plenty of amusing and near disastrous
moments during his days in front of
the cameras at Chelsea. He said: “You
try to do TV things in as few a ‘takes’
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exhibits from nurseries and florists in
the Great Pavilion and up to 250 trade
stands.
Alan continued: “Every year is a new
challenge because you want to keep it
fresh from the viewers’ point of view.
I have been on TV since 1975, so I
can’t get too nervous, but I am still
apprehensive because I want to make
a good job of it. You always think to
yourself this could be the year when
it all goes wrong by not doing a good
job, so that keeps you on your toes.”
When Alan is not working he is still
out in the garden as often as possible.
The former Gardeners’ World and
Ground Force presenter said: “It is
what I do and if all the other work
ended tomorrow, I would just go out
there, pick up my spade and crack on.
I have just been lucky enough to be
The Grea t Spring Show moved to the
grounds of the Chelsea Hospital in 1913,
with the first Chelsea Flower Show
opening on May 20 that year.
The Chelsea Flower Show is attended
by 157,000 visitors each year, a number
limited by the capacity of the 11-acre
ground. From 2005 the show was
increased from four days to five, with the
first two days open only to RHS members.
This year’s show will include 15
spectacular Show Gardens, 11 Fresh
Gardens demonstrating the best of
contemporary garden design, and eight
Artisan Gardens. There are also 150
exhibits from nurseries and florists in the
Great Pavilion, and up to 250 trade stands.
There are four grades of award presented;
gold, silver-gilt, silver and bronze, in each
of many categories. But bronze grade
exhibits do not actually receive a medal.