Documentary
Monty Don explores the fascinating history and evolution of the British garden, from the seventeenth century through to the modern day.


Monty Don explores the evolution of the British garden. Monty uncovers the stories behind Britain's 17th-century gardens, starting at Levens Hall in Cumbria.

Monty bases himself at Rousham House in Oxfordshire, designed by one of the first practitioners of the landscape movement, William Kent. It has survived almost unchanged since its completion in 1741.

In the third installment, Monty focuses on the 19th century. The expanding empire, scientific and technological innovation, and social change are reflected in Britain’s more exotic, colourful and accessible gardens. Monty visits royal retreats, including Osborne House; the very first publicly owned, urban recreational park, Derby Arboretum; as well as Kew Gardens and Edinburgh’s botanic gardens.

Monty Don looks at the evolution of the British garden. Monty concludes his journey by looking at the effect two world wars had on attitudes to gardens.

Self - Presenter

Britain’s rich horticultural history is being lost. More and more front and back gardens are paved over - for development, for parking spaces, or because families don’t have the time or inclination to manage these spaces. The trend for easy-to-maintain lawns, patios and paving has also led to a decline in traditional gardens full of flowers, plants and trees to the extent that some of our most iconic flora and fauna have all but disappeared. Step forward the BBC’s most-loved gardening experts, who are determined to turn us back into a green-fingered nation once again.

Monty Don travels to Spain, discovering gardens across the country’s diverse landscape and exploring its rich and varied history and culture. In Episode 1, he visits historic and modern gardens around the harsh central plains of Spain. In Episode 2, he continues his journey through Spain, visiting the gardens of the South. In the final episode, he discovers gardens in the lesser-known green and mountainous North of Spain.

Filthy Garden SOS meets desperate owners whose out of control gardens are more dumpsite or jungle than sanctuary. For those willing to work hard to fix their problem, help is at hand from award-winning garden designer Diarmuid Gavin, fellow designer and community garden champion Danny Clarke and Penny Lamb.

Gardeners' World is a long-running BBC Television programme about gardening, first broadcast in 1968 and still running as of 2013. Its first episode was presented by Ken Burras and came from Oxford Botanical Gardens. The magazine BBC Gardeners' World is a tie-in to the programme. Most of its episodes have been 30 minutes in length, although there are many specials that last longer. The 2008 and 2009 series used a 60-minute format.