One frequent complaint from viewers of BBC’s Gardeners' World concerns the abundance of birdsong during scenes filmed in Monty Don’s garden at Longmeadow. Many find it hard to believe such rich natural sound could exist—but Monty insists it’s entirely genuine.
On the latest Gardeners' World podcast, Monty addressed the skepticism: “We’ve received several letters saying, ‘I love the show, but the birdsong feels overdone and unrealistic—why don’t you just record the ambient natural sounds?’” He responded simply, “I hate to disappoint you, but that is the natural sound.”
In fact, Monty admits the volume of birdsong is sometimes overwhelming, even for him. “Occasionally, the bird chorus is so loud that we postpone filming because it feels too intense—even to us it seems almost unnatural.”
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Monty and his wife Sarah purchased Longmeadow in 1991 when the garden was little more than a neglected patch of field and an uncared-for front area. Situated amidst expansive farmland, the garden has become a haven for diverse wild birds. Modern farming methods—using pesticides and herbicides—have rendered surrounding fields inhospitable to birds, making Longmeadow an oasis teeming with blackbirds, song thrushes, blackcaps, and other songbirds.
Each June, the garden bursts to life with a dawn chorus that begins around 4:15 a.m., peaks around 5 a.m., and then tapers off by 5:30 a.m. But the singing doesn’t stop there. At dusk, a “dusk chorus” emerges as birds establish their territories before nightfall. Blackbirds respond to each other from different parts of the garden until darkness falls, followed by the calls of owls through the night.
For gardeners hoping to attract birds to their own outdoor spaces, Monty emphasizes the value of natural cover. “Avoid over-manicuring lawns and hedges. Birds want trees, hedges, and shrubs.” He also highlights the benefits of long grass, decaying logs, and ponds. These features support insect life, which in turn draws insect-eating birds.
Once these conditions are in place, Monty notes, attracting birds requires minimal effort. “We feed birds only in winter—that’s about it. Everything else is just nature doing its thing.”
Monty Don will be featured on Gardeners’ World tonight at 8 pm on BBC Two.