Gardeners' World these days is for armchair gardeners
not hands-on gardeners .
Things started with Monty Don. He seems to have recovered
nicely judging from his recent appearance
on The One Show so I feel free to comment,
but dear old Monty was to gardening what
an art Historian is to Art - someone who appreciates
but cannot do it himself.I used to wince at his
digging efforts - raising his spade high into the air
then driving it down at the soil. It's a wonder he
has any toes left . He would also straddle a trench
instead if getting into it - a sure way to a double hernia
or a slipped disc.

When it came to Great Gardens of the World he was
a Master. His encyclopedic knowledge enabled him
to discuss on equal terms with the Great and the Good
in the world of horticulture
Definitely armchair viewing and very good to.

His successors have followed in the same vein.

But where are the Geoff Hamiltons and the Anne Swithinbanks
and their ilk these days? People who simply wished to teach.
With Geoff I felt he was in my garden with me,(and
he always had his ' little project for the week').
while Ann, an ingenuous girl who never aspired to
Garden Goddess status, all she wanted to do was teach,
was most painstaking in her demonstrations Many others
of the old school left a legacy which has been ignored.

Each year there must be many thousands of newbies
who have got their first garden , people wo do not know
the rudiments of gardening who would appreciate an
introduction to hands on gardening from hands on tutors.

I have cultivated my modest garden for 58 years and I'm
still learning.

Auntie Beeb has let us down.

Sam