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A new future for GW?

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Saturday, 7th August 2010

  The problem with Greenacre is that I don't believe in it. Toby's family will never run up that brick path. Joe's troop won't climb on the rammed earth walls and play superman jumping off. Alys won't be there when her special Japanese rubus (or whatever it was), produces its first fruit. And 80% of what goes on there is will never be seen by anyone at all, except the production crew. At least with Berryfields you knew that someone real was enjoying it some of the time.
  
  I would:
  
  - sell of 80% of Greenacre or let it go to a landshare scheme for locals to grow veg.
  - keep the greenhouse and shed as a studio for demonstrating techniques etc, with a small courtyard outside for hardening off etc.
  - link up with half a dozen real gardens which are regularly open to the public and cover a series of planting and other projects as they start and develop. Visitors can watch the programme and then go and see the schemes for themselves.
  - visit a viewer's garden each week to share the best of small scale gardening.
  
  Well that's my formula....

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by tattiebogle (U11728394) on Saturday, 7th August 2010

  Yes, Trillium, there are big problems with Greenacres. It's a shame because it was a wonderful opportunity and it has gone wrong somehow. I think it's because they haven't shown us how it has developed - some things just appear and other projects are done and then never mentioned again, the viewer doesn't know if they are still there or have been dug up and replaced by something else.
  
  The Beechgrove garden moved to a new site some years ago and I don't think they have the same problems. Their projects aren't on such a large scale, and they do keep the viewers updated with the progress, even if it's just a comment in passing as the presenter is shown walking past a particular area.
  
  When Geoff Hamilton took over new ground for his gardens, he showed us how poor the soil was and the viewer was involved in the improvements that were made.
  
  Greenacres seems to be just used as a demonstration garden, not a growing and evolving garden, and as you say, this would have been better done using existing gardens.
  
  Still, gardeners are eternal optimists, and there's always next year - perhaps it will be better then!

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• Message 3

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  Posted by drwalter (U1365507) on Saturday, 7th August 2010

  The last message said: " I think it's because they haven't shown us how it has developed - some things just appear and other projects are done and then never mentioned again, the viewer doesn't know if they are still there or have been dug up and replaced by something else."
  
  SPOT ON - we have no "investment" (i.e. our/viewers time) in this "stage-set". Too many bitty "gardens" (created through "rose-tinted" middle-class glassess. For example: FRONT GARDENS: Look at front gardens across London and you'll find that the MAJORITY are now hard-standing for cars (would we ever see a GW project for that issue? Plants to withstand drips of oil or being wheeled over by a two-tonne car?). Where's the balcony garden for flats?
  
  I don't want to sound harsh (as a I have never produced a 28 week gardening magazine programme...) but GW must improve or you'll end up with less than 2 million viewers. Oh, it has - the most recent audited show has 1.83 million UK viewers (timeshifted). Five years ago (2005) the show was watched by 3.22, and 10 years ago it had 4.36 million green-fingered watchers. Are there other Gardening progs on at the same time to take the audience?
  
  For 2011 SERIES - if commissioned - must see the ditching of a "presenter/s" (i.e. a double-act only which would save salary payments too), re-introduce "step-by-step" gardening (projects & horticulture), ditch the "yoove-style" chit-chat, arty camera direction (if GW wants to do it, then get the guys in from TOP GEAR - they do it better), and be committed to the audience you want to watch (either teens to 20s, 20s to 30s, 40s to 60s or 60+).
  
  If it was not for FREEVIEW+ "record series", I wouldn't bother even recording it to watch later. Sorry, GW, end of Term Report reads: must due better or accept "special measures".

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by Pumpkin_Patch_Paul (U14565900) on Saturday, 7th August 2010

  Was there ever a sh ow broadcast that told you they where leaving berryfields and why, I often wonder if I missed a show, and I must say I do miss the berryfield setting.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Kathy (U898169) on Saturday, 7th August 2010

  I don't like it when they make some fake small gardens within a big garden site. They'd be better off doing them in some genuine gardens rather than just fencing a bit of a large garden off and telling people their back garden could be just like that.

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by darren p (U8518743) on Sunday, 8th August 2010

  geoff hamilton had the same setup. worked out very well for him. large area within which smaller projects were laid out. the only real garden was a.t's.

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