Alan Titchmarsh says 'never do it on a Sunday' in top gardening tip

BBC gardening icon Alan Titchmarsh has issued a stark warning to the nation's gardeners - urging them to refrain from mowing their lawns on Sundays.

Alan, 75, who became a household name through the BBC's hit show Ground Force, where he starred alongside Charlie Dimmock and Tommy Walsh, is still a familiar face on ITV's Love Your Garden. In his latest advice, Alan has appealed to green-fingered enthusiasts to avoid using power tools such as lawn mowers on Sunday mornings, or any power tools for that matter.

Despite the fact that he believes lawns shouldn't be mowed in May at all, Alan expressed his disdain for "mowers, blowers and strimmers" in an article for BBC Gardeners' World magazine. He remarked: "It's clear to me the rarest thing in any garden is silence. It appears to be the one commodity money can't buy.", reports the Express.

READ MORE A new big name restaurant has opened at Meadowhall

Alan shared his personal practice, saying: "I was worried I would sound holier-than-thou when I explained that I never use power tools on a Sunday." He strongly feels that "I believe profoundly there should be at least one day in the week when we could go out into our gardens and experience a bit of peace and quiet."

Alan also pointed out that an increasing number of people are beginning to appreciate natural sounds like birdsong and the rustling of trees, which are all too often drowned out by the noise of power tools, even those that are electric.

While regulations regarding power tool usage typically apply to construction activities, with building sites prohibited from operating them on Sundays, Alan's argument holds weight considering construction hours are restricted to Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, and Saturdays, 8am to 1pm.

Many local authorities stipulate that DIY noise should only be made between 8am and 6pm from Monday to Friday, and any work outside these hours could be considered as antisocial behaviour. No Mow May is an annual initiative encouraging owners of gardens and green spaces to refrain from mowing their lawns for the entire month of May.

The reason behind this is that crucial pollinators rely on grass and its wildflowers such as daisies and buttercups for sustenance during this period. This in turn supports the bird population and the wider food chain. Given the alarming decline in insect numbers by up to 60 percent over the past two decades, garden owners are being urged to contribute to this cause throughout the month.