Renowned gardener and Gardeners' World presenter Alan Titchmarsh has revealed the deeply personal reasons behind his decision to leave the Grade II-listed Hampshire property he and his wife Alison have called home for more than two decades. At 77, Alan recently made the emotional move to a single-storey house with a smaller garden in Surrey, marking the end of an era.
In his final column for BBC Gardeners' World magazine, Alan reflected on the immense commitment required to maintain his sprawling four-acre garden. “Running a large garden is a huge undertaking,” he wrote. “The rewards are enormous but the responsibility is weighty.” He acknowledged that continuing to manage such a property without help was no longer feasible if he wanted to keep pursuing his passion for writing and broadcasting.
Alan drew inspiration from the late Queen Elizabeth II when expressing his feelings about the move. “It’s time to leave while I have the choice, rather than being forced out by circumstances beyond my control,” he shared. “Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II reminded us that grief is the price we pay for love.” With emotion, he confessed, “I cannot imagine ever loving a garden as much as the one I am leaving, which has seen my children grow up and echoed the sounds of my grandchildren… my eyes are full of tears.”
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This heartfelt farewell is not new for Alan. Previously, he told The Times, “I love that garden more than I’ve loved anything I’ve ever made. I’ve given it a quarter of a century of love and care. But when we hand over the key and close the gate, I’m not looking back. I can’t.”
Despite downsizing, Alan shows no signs of slowing his gardening journey. He recently launched a YouTube channel, Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh, which has already attracted over 100,000 subscribers. Thrilled by the response, he said, “It’s gaining a thousand subscribers a day, which is kind of wow… I’m thrilled because it’s sharing skills.”
Alan Titchmarsh’s move is a poignant reminder of the deep connection gardeners form with their gardens—and the bittersweet nature of life’s transitions.