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BBC Gardeners' World Faces Viewer Backlash Over Shift in Focus

The BBC’s beloved programme Gardeners’ World is facing criticism from loyal viewers who believe the show has strayed too far from its original gardening roots into more of a general lifestyle format.

The latest episode, broadcast on the summer solstice, featured Frances Tophill working in the picturesque Damson Farm garden in Somerset. While the visuals were captivating, some long-term fans voiced displeasure over what they see as a growing emphasis on lifestyle elements rather than practical gardening advice.

One disgruntled viewer lamented, “Percy Thrower would be turning in his grave. He was a great gardener,” referencing the legendary presenter who defined the show in its early decades.

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This episode showcased Frances focusing on edible gardens and wildlife-friendly planting, with Carol Klein offering tips on vibrant summer containers. Adam Frost spoke with a horticulturist adapting her garden to frequent flooding—content that some viewers found engaging, but others deemed too far removed from straightforward gardening tutorials.

Aside from format concerns, there has also been controversy about the show’s soundscape. Fans questioned the authenticity of bird songs on Monty Don’s Longmeadow garden segment, suspecting the BBC might be enhancing the sounds artificially. Monty himself set the record straight in the Gardeners’ World podcast, explaining that the abundant, sometimes overwhelming birdsong is natural—even to the point of affecting filming.

He commented on viewer letters: “We get many saying the birdsong is so unrealistic and over the top… but it really is the natural sound.” Monty also revealed that filming is occasionally delayed because the loudness of the birds can be distracting.

Longmeadow, a garden Monty and his wife Sarah transformed from a barren two-acre plot in 1991, serves as a vital haven for birdlife amid heavily farmed land. Species including blackbirds, song thrushes, blackcaps, and other songbirds thrive there.

Despite these explanations, fans remain divided. Some complain on social media about the reduction in hands-on gardening guidance, with one tweeting, “Not much horticultural guidance on #GardenersWorld these days.” Another lamented, “#GardenersWorld is becoming a lifestyle program for people with chronic anxiety. I remember when it taught you how to garden. Now anything goes.”

Gardeners’ World continues to air on BBC One and is available for streaming on BBC iPlayer.

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