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What I would do as Producer of GW

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Colin (U14839360) on Tuesday, 12th April 2011

  Hi there,
  
  Long time reader and first time commenter on this message board, so bear with. I have watched GW for a very long time and although not a Toby hater was very pleased to see the return of Monty and the abandonment of Greenacre. In my personal opinion, I thought the producers were to blame for its failure, in choosing the wrong man as lead presenter (Toby would have been a fine co-presenter) and in choice of garden (should of stuck with Berryfields or found another similar large established garden) Anyway, after watching old episodes of GW from 2005 I realised that although I think Monty and his garden was a good choice, the new GW is missing something that it previously had. I suggest therefore that this post should be used to list practical changes that the production team can view and hopefully do.
  
  Here are some of my ideas:
  
  • More segments – in comparison to old episodes and Beechgrove, the current GW and very little practical segments, and tasks that should be discussed in a few mins i.e pruning figs take much longer than necessary.
  
  • Tips from another garden – The producers should take note of the Percy Thrower era, and notice that due to Percy not having much veg in his garden, GW went to Clacks Farm – this could be done now with a segment from Carol Klein’s garden or Sarah Raven’s large garden on topics that Monty’s garden or climate can’t discuss.
  
  • New small gardens – After watching old episodes I realised how much I took and enjoyed from the small town gardens, the shade, country, town and cottage gardens at Berryfields. This should be continued, expect not happened at Greenacre, where Toby would take you to his back garden and you would find it already planted up and designed off camera – After watching Carol’s Cottage Garden series I saw there was a field next to her, producers should rent or buy the field and then like in Geoff Hamilton’s day erect fence or build walls and Carol or Matt James who I think now lives and teaches in the same area should every week add to and develop them.
  
  • New presenter – while not a Joe hater, I think his time has come and other more talented gardeners who have shown at Chelsea (unlike Joe) should be brought on – for instance Chris Beardshaw, who I’ve always loved for his passion and knowledge of plants while still being a great designer. Matthew Wilson or Matt James are another two talented and knowledgeable presenters.
  
  • A beginners segment – After reading some segments I see a need for a beginners segment in GW. I would suggest Dan Pearson as presenter and from his garden. Those who read his Guardian blog will know he has recently moved to the country and is building a garden from scratch. He could give advice over planting arrangements, how to deal with a scary blank canvas and other tips newer gardeners would like.
  
  • Trials – I really enjoyed the dahlia, cosmos, sunflower, chilli, and pumpkin trials under Monty and they should be re-established. They should take a note of Beechgrove and trial new varieties and products.
  
  These are just some suggestion I would enact as a producer of GW, what would you do? Please list your suggestions below.
  

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Lowena (U14575314) on Wednesday, 13th April 2011

  Very interesting, thanks for that
  I'll give it some thought...............................apart from changing the main presenter, of course

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• Message 3

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  Posted by marinelilium (U8293024) on Wednesday, 13th April 2011

  I'd love a regular segment on the pests, diseases and weeds of the week!
  
  * Identifying solutions and remedies for the fungi, moulds, viruses and those little critters that can reduce all our hopes, not to mention our hard work, overnight. A weekly 'Friends and Foes Feature' would probably be equally welcomed by vetrans and new gardeners alike.
  
  * "Weeds to Feed Us" . Making a meal out of it is something we got a glimpse of in Aly Fowler's programme. So there must be something in the wild larder every week to supplement the pot. Fergus Drennan is your man if you want a guest expert.
  
  Can't wait for the full hour of Gardener's World to reappear.
  
  MLx
  

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• Message 4

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  Posted by Pumpkin_Patch_Paul (U14565900) on Wednesday, 13th April 2011

  Easy 4 sections 7min long.other 2 mins for titiles ect..
  
  1/Vegetables/seeds
  
  2/Fowers/bulbs/seeds ect
  
  3/Shrubs,Trees/lawn Ect
  
  4/Green house,Compost,propagating,Tools general garden up keep.
  
  All at Greenacres or Berryfields with Monty/Carol/Toby/Aly's/Christine W
  
  Think that would be a good start for me...

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• Message 5

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  Posted by Pumpkin_Patch_Paul (U14565900) on Wednesday, 13th April 2011

  Sorry forgot in each section there could also be trials wether on seeds or compost or different tools heating greenhouse,feed.propagators, ect

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Bluedoyenne (U2341157) on Wednesday, 13th April 2011

  1. More segments
  The programme is only 30 mins long and is already divided into 3 segments which, IMHO, is 2 segments too many, as these segments take from the main subject - the presenter's garden. Posters have been crying out for a programme from just 1 garden, the presenter's garden, in order to provide a complete, coherent programme with a continuous timeline, with a presenter who has a sense of personal involvement and ownershp of the garden. So please, no more segments!
  
  2. Tips from other gardens
  You mention the veg from Clacks farm, etc. but MD's garden is on two acres and has, as well as ornamental flower gardens, vegetable gardens, a fruit garden, shady woodland areas, formal parterres and heaven knows what else. MD has created and nurtured his garden for 16 years now and is generous in sharing the tips he has learned over the years.
  
  3. New small gardens
  Starting with a bare patch of ground, whether it be on a thousand acre estate or in a 5 m² garden attached to a newly built house, the basics are the same. And the basics are being shown by MD.
  
  4. New presenters
  There are already 2 two presenters (and 2 segments) too many on the programme. 30 minutes of MD in his garden would be bliss for many viewers. Remember the CK programme earlier in the year? - no presenter but herself in her own garden and it was absolutely wonderful. And what about the great Geoff Hamilton? If memory serves me well, he worked alone from his garden also. So please, no new presenters.
  
  5. Trials
  If new, innovative products come onto the market aimed at gardeners I'm pretty sure MD would give them a try.
  
  We viewers finally have a true gardening programme. It has taken years of pleading with the Ö÷²¥´óÐã to get to this point ,so please let us enjoy it as it is.
  

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Ann Lakin (U14812076) on Wednesday, 13th April 2011

  I never considered that Toby Buckland would be chosen as main presenter but he was and he appeared to reach the younger more inexperienced gardeners with his friendly personality and explanations.
  Monty Don is not my choice as main presenter either, I would much prefer Carol Klein whose recent series was a delight and her working on sections in her own garden would add to the show. This wandering around gardens, as in the old format of GW is not something I enjoyed then, or now. I want to see practical and informative gardening.
  1. We all seem to hanker for the Geoff Hamilton days, my reasoning for this was he was a practical man with great enthusiam and ideas and the camera followed his hands to show us what he was doing at the same time as he explained it. Which no longer happens, the camera never seems to get a clear shot of the practicalities. I don't want to see the presenter's face as they explain or their shed, I want to see what they are doing.
  2. As gardeners we should be generous and try to encourage "new" gardeners and the inexperienced, after all it's not an exclusive club. Just because "you" know how to do it doesn't mean everyone else does.
  3. Stop this inane programme filling of a visit to someone's garden to clear their pond or cut down their cordyline. MD needs to utlitise his co-presenters in his garden, (I realise it's his domain) so we get more out of the programme. One working in veg plot, one in jewel garden etc.
  4. Whilst I appreciate GW trying to involve the audience, and the uptake in allotments must prove your success in this, please just garden, educate, teach and let us share in the pleasure by adapting those skills ourselves.
  5. GW needs to be an hour long, there isn't any other gardening programme on tv and the season is short. An hour slot is needed.
  On a separate note Carol Klein's Cottage Garden got me through the winter months, we need to see that shot of colour in the depths of winter, so well done for something so informative and enjoyable. It certainly got me out in February to start my preparations.
  

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• Message 8

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  Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Wednesday, 13th April 2011

  For the majority of householders with a garden, gardening is a consumer activity, based around buying things at garden centres - plants, planters, tools, mini-greenhouses, seeds, lawn treatments, pest controls, gadgets etc. and then doing something with it at home.
  
  'Real' gardeners may baulk at this, but it is the reality. Rather than pretend it doesn't happen, or shouldn't happen, I think (and have said before), that GW should address this head on, by going into garden centres, buying a selection of products each week and explain what things are and what options people have.
  
  A nation of informed, questioning, discerning garden centre customers could transform the sector, drive environmental priorities, drive costs down and drive service standards up as well as giving customers the confidence to do their own thing as an alternative to buying a product.

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• Message 9

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  Posted by kfgray (U14470933) on Wednesday, 13th April 2011

  hello Trillium I agree but the charter would not allow it;s product placement

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• Message 10

  , in reply to message 9.

  Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Wednesday, 13th April 2011

  I don't mean brand names. I mean components - ingredients, product types etc.

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• Message 11

  , in reply to message 10.

  Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Wednesday, 13th April 2011

  ....and anyway - if Topgear can compare cars, why can't GW compare tools?

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• Message 12

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by welshcol (U2301689) on Thursday, 14th April 2011

  Have you tried Beechgrove Garden on Ö÷²¥´óÐã Scotland ?- a lot of your "wish list" items will be there, unfortunately 3-4 weeks in terms of topicality for those in the South of England/Wales.

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