Viewers are sharing personal tributes as Monty Don concludes his long-running tenure on Gardeners’ World. The final episode aired in early November, prompting a wave of messages from fans who credited the presenter with shaping their professional careers and personal well-being.
A teacher for a generation
Saul Abbott, a garden designer from Essex, began his professional career in 2004, just one year after Don started hosting the programme. Abbott described Don as the greatest presenter of a television show in a generation, noting that his calm pace matched the rhythm of the natural world.
Abbott recalled watching the show every Friday night with a pencil and pad, taking detailed notes on plant varieties and gardening methods. He would then apply this knowledge the following week at work. His dedication was so intense that friends could not understand why he would give up Friday nights out for a gardening programme.
“I can’t express how much I will miss him on the show,” Abbott wrote. “Thank you, Monty, for being the best teacher imaginable.”
Impact on mental health and daily life
Don has been open about his struggles with depression throughout his time on the show. While the programme has never explicitly focused on mental health as a primary topic, it has consistently highlighted the therapeutic benefits of gardening, fresh air, and plant care.
Jane Bates from Macclesfield, Cheshire, said the show provided her with a weekly hour to reflect on her internal life. She valued the programme immeasurably and expressed hope that it would continue in a new form for years to come.
“My life is decidedly the better for it,” Bates said. “Friday nights with Monty and his team of gardening experts have given me an hour every week to look at what is real and relevant to my own internal life and enjoyment.”
Intergenerational connections
For some viewers, the show served as a bridge between generations. Joe Mackenzie from Lewisham, London, first learned about the programme during the coronavirus pandemic while quarantining with his grandmother. She was an avid gardener who regularly entered village flower competitions.
Mackenzie noted that his grandmother was not typically interested in television, but she never missed an episode of Gardeners’ World. He believed Don inspired her to let part of her garden grow into a wildflower meadow to attract bees and insects.
The show also marked a poignant moment in Mackenzie’s personal life. During the week of his wedding, his grandmother was hospitalized. The night before the ceremony, he turned on the television in their hotel room and found Gardeners’ World on the air. His grandmother passed away a week later, meaning she saw the flowers from his wedding but missed Don’s final episode.
As the show moves forward without its long-time host, these stories highlight the deep connection Don forged with his audience. His departure marks the end of an era for a programme that has been a staple of British television for decades.
Source: The Guardian
