Earlier this year, Alan Titchmarsh made the decision to reduce his working hours to spend more quality time with his family. Now 76, the celebrated gardener has cut out Fridays from his schedule and occasionally takes Mondays off. However, this shift does not signal retirement; Alan remains passionately devoted to working outdoors, which he describes as one of his greatest joys.
Beyond personal fulfillment, Alan’s commitment to gardening is driven by deep concerns for the future of horticulture and the environment. Recognizing the growing disconnect between young people and nature due to modern technology, he has expanded his outreach through platforms like YouTube and TikTok to reconnect new generations with the earth.
In a recent interview with Suffolk Magazine, Alan emphasized the importance of nurturing “knowledge and care” for the environment, starting right in one’s garden. He said, “There’s a great danger now with technology, mobile phones etc., that young people will lose connection with the great outdoors. They know about global warming and climate change and feel powerless to do anything about it.”
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Since launching his YouTube channel in April, Alan has garnered nearly 61,000 subscribers. At the channel’s launch, he reflected, “In a worryingly troubled world, gardening is a great escape, but it’s an escape to reality. The grass, the trees, the shrubs, the flowers remind you that nature carries on, and when you work with her it’s enriching beyond measure.”
With over 60 years of gardening experience, Alan passionately shares, “Gardening is one of life’s greatest joys, and I can’t wait to share it with you.” His dedication to preserving British gardening culture has been clear for years, expressing concerns that young people often favor technology over horticulture. “It’s time we reconnected them with apples rather than Apple Macs, plant cells rather than cell phones and raspberries as well as blackberries,” he remarked to the Daily Mail.
Alan has also highlighted the undervaluation of horticulture by both government and younger generations, stressing that the field holds crucial significance for the planet’s wellbeing. He noted, “There is much to learn and, as anyone who has been involved with horticulture will tell you, it can be tremendously challenging… Our role is undervalued because people do not understand the breadth of what we do.”
Currently, Alan continues to engage viewers through his ITV shows Gardening Club and Love Your Weekend. This month, he was honored to be named the new president of the National Garden Scheme, a charity supporting nursing causes across the UK. Reflecting on this new role and his future, he says, “I really am so lucky to be doing a job I love, which really isn’t a job at all – it’s a way of life that I have been blessed with.”
Fans can catch Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh on ITV and ITVX at 9.30am today.