Alan Titchmarsh weighs in on people who make gardeners feel like ‘cold-hearted brutes’
Alan Titchmarsh has responded to those who label him and his fellow gardeners as "cold-hearted brutes" for practising their craft. The former Gardeners' World presenter, 75, recently shared his thoughts on three environmental causes, as well as the role that gardeners play in shaping the natural spaces around them, according to the Telegraph.
Alan expressed that he and other gardeners are sometimes made to feel like they "care little", but highlighted the positive impact of those whom he described as "sons and daughters of the soil". He stated: "There are times when I and my fellow gardeners, the folk who love to grow plants and to beautify the landscape, are made to feel like cold-hearted brutes who care little for the planet.
"It's all very well espousing the causes of No Mow May, rewilding and 'slugs are our friends', but that is to overlook the greater good that results from those of us who regard ourselves as sons and daughters of the soil." Alan said gardeners tend to be "interventionists" but "good" gardeners try to make sure that their interventions are "thoughtful".
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He also shared that he felt "saddened" when people say humans don't deserve to be on the planet and it would be better to allow animals and plantlife to take over. Alan, who has previously warned that rewilding domestic gardens could be "catastrophic" for biodiversity, went on to emphasise the "thoughtful" gardeners and stressed that they should be recognised, reports the Express.
In 2023, the beloved TV presenter recognised the significance of rewilding for farms, woodlands, and other natural spaces, but suggested it might not be as beneficial for home gardens. He pointed out that while rewilded gardens using native plants can lack in providing food and shelter for wildlife, a garden with a diverse range of plants is more advantageous.
The Love Your Garden host also criticised the "misleading propaganda" that suggests only native plants are helpful to the environment. Rewilding Britain defines rewilding as the process of restoring ecosystems, their natural processes, and missing species, to conserve nature.
Alan said: "As custodians of the botanical riches of our gardens, domestic gardeners have a duty – and a glorious one at that – to ensure the survival of this unparalleled resource."