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Beechgrove Garden 29/09
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Message 1.Ìý
Posted by novicedippychick (U9694696) on Wednesday, 31st August 2011
I am going to sound like a heretic to some of you but I found this weeks programme a bore. I watched it on iPlayer and found myself constantly forwarding the show.
Sometimes great advice is given but I do find it a little old fashioned and stilted on occasions but would I want to change I don't know because I wouldn't know what to change.
I will still watch the show as I wouldn't want to miss any good advice but there is still a little part of me that wonders about the format of Beechgrove.
NDC -
Message 2
Posted by Colin (U2252951) on Wednesday, 31st August 2011
Crivens! BG had 10 times more info this week than GW's silly effort.
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Message 3
Posted by thedogcody (U14659366) on Wednesday, 31st August 2011
NDC
I hope you have got your hard-hat on-you are going to get a lot of flak!
I know what you mean-but I think that is all part of the charm
Geoff
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Message 4
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Wednesday, 31st August 2011
It is old fashioned but it's packed with useful info and loads of people still do bedding plants. I'd rather put all that sowing and pricking out to good use to grow perennials. You just have to take what's applicable to you and your garden and any future projects you might be planning or be inspired to try.
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Message 5
Posted by Ken Smart (U1158196) on Wednesday, 31st August 2011
I do find it a little old fashioned and stilted Ìý
I'm honestly not sure what the problem would be if it were a little 'old fashioned', but I certainly don't find it such. Indeed, my fear is that they might move in the opposite direction. I confess that sometimes when I'm viewing a programme on the iPlayer, I also fast forward a fair bit - perhaps just the knowledge that we can, keeps our fingers on the f/f button. As far as the programme being 'stilted' is concerned, I would have thought the criticism might be in precisely the opposite direction. I find all the presenters pretty relaxed, and they inter-relate particularly well. I often wonder what the wider audience make of Jim's use of the local vernacular, when I struggle a bit - and I'm only an hour down the road. Still, we have a couple of English ladies to give us a bit of balance, and I can't think of there ever being a Scottish voice on GW. Just shows once again how we can take differing views on exactly the same programmes. -
Message 6
Posted by novicedippychick (U9694696) on Wednesday, 31st August 2011
When I posted my original post I thought I would need a bullet proof vest
but hey ho I've survived 
I have thought again about the show and feel there should be a place for a programme like BG, I think the only gardening programme I cannot watch is the ridiculous garden fiasco on Ch5.
NDC -
Message 7
Posted by kate1123 (U14824475) on Wednesday, 31st August 2011
I really enjoyed it but also admit that I fast forward the sections that are totally irrelevant to my garden but I often have to replay a bit that I found very useful or go to the website to check up on suppliers of varieties that they say were very good.
I understand that it is a very formulaic program 5 mins of flower/veg/fruit problems/pests but it gives such good basic advice rather than flamboyant nonsense. -
Message 8
Posted by welshcol (U2301689) on Thursday, 22nd September 2011
When I posted my original post I thought I would need a bullet proof vest
but hey ho I've survived
I have thought again about the show and feel there should be a place for a programme like BG, I think the only gardening programme I cannot watch is the ridiculous garden fiasco on Ch5.
NDC
Ìý Took a while to catch up with your post but caught my attention since I thought you were commenting on a programme in the future ie 29/9
-anyway to more serious matters, totally disagree and am sure that with a more considered and perhaps a more frequent visit to the BG's series you will find I am sure that they cover more useful, detailed, informative and expert items on gardening in 30 mins than the competition, what there is of it!!!, does in twice the time. There is only one criticism which has been discussed many times before is that the viewer has to adjust , unfortunately retrospectively!, to the Scottish latitude and is easily 20-30 days behind the mid and South of the country if not more.
This taken as read since it is a Scottish programme I refute your disparaging remarks..
Have a nice day and roll on BG next Monday -give it another go and you will, I am sure be totally won over. -
Message 9
Posted by Lowena (U14575314) on Thursday, 22nd September 2011
I find it a bit old fashioned and stilted too, but I wonder if that's because I've watched it through iplayer ( which I don't like doing)
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Message 10
Posted by welshcol (U2301689) on Saturday, 24th September 2011
I find it a bit old fashioned and stilted too, but I wonder if that's because I've watched it through iplayer ( which I don't like doing)Ìý I think the stilted, jerky impression could certainly be due to "buffering"
-I think- as the programme downloads and will be dependant on your broadband speed.
With regard the "old fashioned" I think this is an important part of the relaxing and friendly charm of the programme and can only apply to the presentation where as the content, evaluating and testing new methods, products and varieties, can only be described as up to date and current IMHO. -
Message 11
Posted by TomBradbury (U3349234) on Sunday, 25th September 2011
Old fashioned? Or perhaps just sticking with a formula that works and not trying to be something for everybody and performing badly as a result.
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Message 12
Posted by welshcol (U2301689) on Sunday, 25th September 2011
Old fashioned? Or perhaps just sticking with a formula that works and not trying to be something for everybody and performing badly as a result.Ìý I'm with you....
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Message 13
Posted by Braidman (U11753668) on Sunday, 25th September 2011
.
Of course it's old fashioned, aren't all gardeners?
Once you have seen some trees you have seen them all, or sowed some seeds you do not need to be shown how to do it again, but we all sit and watch them doing it over and over again!
Me, when I sown seeds it never ceases to amaze me what usually emerges or sometimes doesn't some time later.
If you know the Scots it's down to earth and practical, unlike the previous series of GW which was excruciating to watch on most occasions!
Long may Beechgrove continue!
Cheers! -
Message 14
Posted by Lowena (U14575314) on Monday, 26th September 2011
No, I'm a gardener and I'm certainly not old fashioned!! I don't like fads and silliness ( like the makeover shows) but I would like a little more vim and vigour in the style of the presenters.That's one of my ( many) dislikes of MD, his delivery style is soooo languid that, rather than enthuse me, it sends me to sleep!
Not all gardeners think, speak and work at a snail's pace and the gardening programmes should recognise that.If they haven't enough material to fill their time.....find more! -
Message 15
Posted by Sue Hall (U13984403) on Monday, 26th September 2011
Beechgrove is down to earth (sorry), no frills gardening programme. I agree with Lowena that MD is a lovely person but it takes him half a programme to cover what BG does in a few minutes. And then they move on to something else. The programme is stuffed with information, it does not 'wallow', and its 'problem corner' section is proper gardening, not a five-minute faddy fix, and with robust planting suggestions and ideas that are thoroughly tried and tested and won't all die after the first frosts.
The other issue I have with GW (whoever the presenter) is that, for a national ´óÏó´«Ã½ programme, it hardly ever seems to remember that a sizeable proportion of UK gardeners live north of the Watford Gap. I am sick to the back teeth of 'hot tropical borders' and totally unsuitable planting ideas. Even when I lived in Cheshire the timings were all wrong, and never a consideration of 'oop north'.
BG is not old fashioned, it's a gardening programme for proper gardeners!
(Phew, feel better for that!) -
Message 16
Posted by the cycling gardener (U2350416) on Monday, 26th September 2011
The other issue I have with GW (whoever the presenter) is that, for a national ´óÏó´«Ã½ programme, it hardly ever seems to remember that a sizeable proportion of UK gardeners live north of the Watford Gap. I am sick to the back teeth of 'hot tropical borders' and totally unsuitable planting ideas. Even when I lived in Cheshire the timings were all wrong, and never a consideration of 'oop north'. Ìý
Enough of this north/south business. Why do you assume that just because someone lives north of Watford Gap some garden plants and styles are out of the question? They do hot tropical borders very well in the north west of Scotland. We’ve witnessed Monty battling with weather patterns particular to his part of Herefordshire. Indeed, some people complained that his garden was some 2 to 3 weeks behind their own which from your comment sounds as though it should be a good match to yours. Don’t forget the effects of the Gulf Stream, height above sea level, frost pockets in valleys etc. Gardening in this country isn’t determined purely by differing weather patterns either side of a neat line running from the Bristol Channel to the Wash. Some parts of Bedfordshire are suffering drought. I'm 20 miles south in Hertfordshire where we aren't. -
Message 17
Posted by Lowena (U14575314) on Monday, 26th September 2011
I agree. Monty Don appears to garden in very difficult conditions and his weather last year must have been awful judging by the state of his garden when the programmes first aired this spring
I live in West Cornwall, near Land's End, a mile from one coast and 4 miles from the other coast. My climactic conditions are very different from any of those associated with the gardens shown on GW. Surely you know your own soil and weather conditions and can adapt any advice given, it's not difficult. -
Message 18
Posted by Sue Hall (U13984403) on Monday, 26th September 2011
Hi Lowena, CyclingGardener,
*peers around garden shed door cautiously to avoid low flying brickbats*
Thank you both for your valid and relevant comments. And I am sure you are aware that GW has come in for criticism for actually being too far north for some people!
Apologies for being too simplistic with my Watford Gap analogy; I was trying to inject a little humour into a situation which I think GW really avoids - for such a small country we have huge climatic variations and if I were to follow the (nationally broadcast) suggestions for, say, pruning, I may be doing a lot of damage - my garden is frequently 4-5 weeks behind. I know not to do that, but if I were a novice gardener, I may not know any differently.
Lowena, yes I know Cornwall has harsh climates, and yes, I garden according to my local weather and my soil. But, for example, Carol Klein's Cottage Garden programme last year was showing Cornwall's desperately cold and severe weather disappearing long before it did further north.
CyclingGardener - 'Don’t forget the effects of the Gulf Stream, height above sea level, frost pockets in valleys etc' - exactly my point! GW has a 'one size fits all' approach to gardening. And it is a national programme. And yes, there are some hot tropical borders in the Hebrides, but , believe me, not many!
So I believe that if GW is a national gardening programme then it should consider national weather variations, (yes, North AND south of the Watford Gap ) especially the variations in temperature, sunshine and daylight.
And that's just one of the reasons I stick to Beechgrove. -
Message 19
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Tuesday, 27th September 2011
It's difficult to do a one size fits all from one man and his garden and in just 30 minutes but I do think more account of regional variations could be encompassed by more diversified regional garden visits. I have very much enjoyed the external garden visits so far but I'd like to see them extended to include gardens on chalk, gardens on hillsides, gardens on the coast and some small urban gardens that show what can be done with an average size plot or a terrace courtyard.
There is very little in the current format and delivery of GW to help a complete novice or recent beginner. We've seen this covered in th past by having Rachel or Carol concentrate on one family and their garden through a series. I don't see why this couldn't be done again with one slot featuring a bare, new build garden and another fetauring a newly acquired older garden in need of renovation and titivation to suit the new owners' needs and pocket.
As for Beechgrove, it does manage to cover a wider range of topics in the same 30 minute slot but has 3 or 4 presenters each week so it doen't seem like they're rushing madly from one job to another and they all have their specialities and quirks. I think it's a great mix and a great progamme packed full of practical info and ideas. -
Message 20
Posted by the cycling gardener (U2350416) on Tuesday, 27th September 2011
My climactic conditions are very different from any of those associated with the gardens shown on GW. Surely you know your own soil and weather conditions and can adapt any advice given, it's not difficult.Ìý
Absolutely. The programme would become very boring if every item was accompanied by Monty giving specific regional advice to cover the array of gardening climates in the UK.
Lowena, you live in one of my favourite places on earth but I don't envy your gardening conditions unless you have the protection of a valley. I am at my most relaxed walking the cliff tops on the south west coast path and spend many holidays at Cape Cornwall where the incessant wind and steep coast roads make cycling hard work but love it when a gale sends the waves crashing into Priet's Cove. Exhilerating! There is a large house at the Cape whose gardens have been undergoing a transition over the last 3 or 4 years and I look out for new plant additions each time I visit. It has a very large greenhouse built into the rocks that really should be a candidate for "best view from a greenhouse - ever!" -
Message 21
Posted by Lowena (U14575314) on Tuesday, 27th September 2011
I know exactly where you mean CG, I covet that house,garden and greenhouse
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