Monty Don May Lose Garden Staff After Leaving Gardeners World
Monty Don revealed that he may have to let go of the two full-time gardeners who maintain his Herefordshire garden, Longmeadow, following his departure from Gardeners’ World. Speaking at the RHS Malvern autumn flower show, Don stated that the BBC’s financial contribution toward their salaries will end with his exit from the program.
The Scale and Upkeep of a Broadcast-Ready Acreage
For 15 years, viewers have watched the two-acre Herefordshire garden evolve on screen. Since Don began hosting the show from his back yard in 2011, his BBC contract has mandated two full-time gardeners to keep the space camera-ready at all times. According to Don, keeping the grounds broadcast-ready requires constant upkeep, particularly when he travels for international filming commitments such as his upcoming BBC travel program, Island Gardens.
Corporate Funding Expiration Threatens Staffing
The BBC has historically paid a contribution toward the wages of those two gardeners, alongside a propagation expert and a landscaper who have worked with Don for a decade. With that corporate funding set to expire following his exit from the show after 23 years, Don explained that maintaining the current team is financially unsustainable without new revenue streams. He noted that he cannot afford the upkeep unless the garden generates income, though he cannot begin implementing those revenue ideas until the middle of next year at the earliest.
Logistical Hurdles Rule Out Public Admissions
Addressing the possibility of welcoming ticket-holders to offset maintenance costs, Don ruled out opening Longmeadow to the public. He emphasized that it remains a private family space and pointed out that organizing visitor parking in the local area of Ivington would present severe logistical hurdles. The space, which he and his wife Sarah created from a neglected field in 1991, is divided into four distinct sections: the cottage garden, the jewel garden, the Islamic-inspired paradise garden, and the vegetable garden.
Transitioning to New Broadcasting Horizons
Don announced earlier this month that he was leaving Gardeners’ World because it was the right time for a change, though he will continue working with the broadcaster on other projects, including writing books. The final television series he hosts from Longmeadow will continue broadcasting later this year before he transitions fully to upcoming assignments like Island Gardens.