Allotments 4 All

Was it just me, or was anyone else dissapointed.

Lots of info about visiting gardens, and whole program done by Carol Klein (chuffed I got her book for £5 today though).

Just seems the whole format of the program has changed. 

I agree - it was much better in Geoff Hamilton's day I reckon..

Unless Monty and Chris are doing something else for a while, they might be back..........or not? It was a tad dissapointing

i cant be bothered to watch it anymore an i have canceled my subscription to gardners world.

Yup - sad days - whatever happended to 'the big dig' - I loved that show but it has't been on for ages?

We've got Virgin cable, but it never seems to be repeated?

I don't like the program cause I am not a flower person myself I would love more facts about veg and fruit gardening, then I would watch it more

Hi Caseylee,

Couldn't agree more! - that's what I mean about it being better in Geoff Hamilton's day - he used to give tips on making coldframes out a few old bits of wood and some polythene and a bit of leftover jam and that kind of thing! - there was much more about fruit and veg then. Bearing in mind allotments have had a bit of a revival over recent years, you'd think that they'd pick up on it

yep but tv people only want to indirectly sell you new stuff not help you make do. In fact the only program that managed to do that was its not easy being green when they first started up.

What we need is a petition to the beeb! afterall we pay our tv licences!!

It got bumped here so they could show the rugby Wales v France but it sounds like I didn't miss much.

Quote from: sheddie on March 14, 2008, 23:13:47
Yup - sad days - whatever happended to 'the big dig' - I loved that show but it has't been on for ages?

We've got Virgin cable, but it never seems to be repeated?

big dig is on on the garden type chanel in the mornings humm round about 10/11ish

Yup, dull, Dull, DULL.   More dull that a bag full of dull things.      Still, twas better than watching Sports Relief.

Did anyone notice which flower bed was NOT her favorite ?

And I loved the bit where she was demonstrating pruning Primrose roots, and the camera cut to her mugshot rather than show what she was doing.

I did like the Expert Tips section, hope they keep that.

Also far too many gardens to visit sections. Especially as I don't live in Cornwall.

Still, she did a better job of gardening than Top Gear did - just (but Top Gear was less dull).

Quote from: sheddie on March 14, 2008, 23:13:47
Yup - sad days - whatever happended to 'the big dig' - I loved that show but it has't been on for ages?

We've got Virgin cable, but it never seems to be repeated?

Big dig is on this morning on uktv gardens at 10 o'clock,2 o'clock  ;D

I haven't watched last night's GW.  Shan't bother now.  :)

There used to be another programme on one of the UK cable channels.  About a young couple who bought a small farm in Wales, and were trying to convert it so that they could live a "green" lifestyle.  It was broadcast well before It's Not Easy Being Green was even made, and was a lot more interesting, and a lot less showy, though they did similar stuff - raising their own pigs to eat, using water power to create electricity, etc.  Can't remember what it was called, but I do wish they'd repeat it.

I dug and dug and found out what it was called - "Down on the Farm".  Keep an eye out for it on UKTV Gardens.  Maybe I might email them and ask them to put it on again?

Hi debjay,

Yup - sods law - posted this last night and then put UKTV gardens on just before 10 this morning - and would you beleive it!...

The big dig that was on this morning seemed like it was the last in the series?, so it'll probably disapear again now!

I couldnt disagree more. I really enjoyed it. it seemed more like GW used to be in Alan's day. You felt like you were following a gardener around their garden doing the jobs THEY wanted to do rather than a series of dull set pieces like you get at Berryfields when everyone is there.

I like there to be a sense of ownership over a garden by the presenter. Berryfields is a nice gardenbut by not belonging to any of the presenters it lacks character and soul that Barnsdale and Barleywood had in spades (pun intended!).

I think the new thing for this series is for the three main presenters to not be based at Berryfields each week. Monty will work there with Alys (who is excellent BTW), Carol will be doing stuff from her garden or 'out and about' and JOE (not chris, he left years ago), will be doing his bits from a new allotment he has just taken on plus other features elsewhere. I think that last bit will be of interest to A4All members, particularly those who have not been allotmenteering for that long.

Personaly i think it is a step in the right direction and shows that the powers that be on GW have been listening to veiwers comments and opinions.  I think rather than write it off after only a couple of programmes, i would suggest giving Gardeners World 2008 a bit more of a chance,

Quote from: DenBee on March 15, 2008, 09:32:26
I haven't watched last night's GW.  Shan't bother now.  :)

There used to be another programme on one of the UK cable channels.  About a young couple who bought a small farm in Wales, and were trying to convert it so that they could live a "green" lifestyle.  It was broadcast well before It's Not Easy Being Green was even made, and was a lot more interesting, and a lot less showy, though they did similar stuff - raising their own pigs to eat, using water power to create electricity, etc.  Can't remember what it was called, but I do wish they'd repeat it.

saw the first prog was going to cancel sky but they said was new one coming so didnt but havent seen a new one yet!
Pauline

Quote from: Garden Apprentice on March 16, 2008, 18:19:54
IJOE (not chris, he left years ago), will be doing his bits from a new allotment he has just taken on

That should be fun.  Anyone remember his wonderful advice on growing potatoes in containers?  When he said you plant them at the top of the barrel and only lightly cover them with compost, because they grow downward?  ;D

Berryfield always felt a bit soulless to me.  Though there were some interesting things done in it, it was more like a municipal park or a show than a "garden".

Unlike most of us on A4All, Mr Swift is very much a novice vegetable grower, and like all novices has made plenty of mistakes. But thats all part of the learning expereince isnt it? Certainly more fun than everything going right first time! I think it will be nice to see Joe learning to be a lottie man. I think it should be an inspiration to other would be veg growers.

Soulless berryfields might be but I have taken a few good ideas from there to use in my garden, and there are nice areas. I particularly like the spring garden (not that we see much of it these days) and the long borders are impressive when they are at their best. I wish I could have borders like that in my garden.