GARDENS
GREENFINGERS… with Alan Titchmarsh Horticultural inspiration, accomplished gardener, talented novelist and much-loved presenter, Alan Titchmarsh, tells Village People readers to “get out, get out, get out!”
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es, you – I’m telling you to get up, put your shoes on, open the door and immerse yourself in what a wonderful country and wonderful landscape this is. Even after my 70-plus years here, I’m proud and passionate and loyal to the UK, and I could never live anywhere else; and while those emotions hold firm all year round, in my mind there is never a better time to soak up the majesty of nature than now, with the sun out, the days growing longer, and nature unequivocally at her most resplendent. When I suggest getting outdoors in this way – and I suggest it a lot! – on some occasions I get a comment back that the person isn’t into nature, or doesn’t know where to start when it comes to pruning or trimming. In reality, it doesn’t matter. Of course I want our gardens to be at their most beautiful as regularly as they can, but these spaces are as much about what they give us, as what we give them. So while our own lawns and beds and trellises are often a priority, in these early days of summer I would encourage you
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to take the opportunity to sample those of others… in the wild, at a country house, even at a neighbour’s. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so get out there, get imitating, and get inspired. And by the way, take your kids – every time. Get them off their consoles and prise them away from social media, it’s really good for them to see this whole other side of things. It’s funny, the three big things government are always ranting on about are law and order, health, and education. That’s fair enough. And yet, time outdoors, time gardening, gives us all of them. If you’re letting off steam, you're less likely to use your anger in a place where it wouldn't be suitable.
If you're out there, you're learning about how things grow, so that's the education element. And the health part is obvious – fresh air, exercise, open spaces, gardens, parks, woodland, moorland. I know it sounds terribly trite, but I do think if some of these world leaders just went out and pottered about in their garden for an hour every Saturday letting off steam, the world just might be a better place! So, please… get out!
