My Garden

Has gardening ever been core to Britishness?

Last post 23-06-2008 1:26 AM by schol49. 18 replies.

• 04/10/2005 07:44 PM
  admin Location: Joined on: 20 Nov 2003 Posts: 160	Reply | Contact Do you see gardening as core to our national identity? Do you see gardening as a quintessential British pastime? Or do you think that this view of the Nation is based on a Victorian heyday that has little to do with Britain today?

• 05/10/2005 06:32 AM	In reply to
  filippo lippi Location: Nottingham Joined on: 25 Feb 2005 Posts: 297	Reply | Contact I think it's part of my identity and it's a pastime that is practiced by a fair number of British people, but I'd hesitate to go further. There's plenty of British people who don't, or can't, garden and, though I'm no social historian, I'd guess this was at least as true in the Victorian era. ------------------- Ow! My most of me!

• 05/10/2005 09:44 AM

  In reply to

  Obelix Location: Belgium Joined on: 24 Nov 2004 Posts: 378

  Reply | Contact My paternal grandfather grew fruit and vegetables to provide good food for his family during the depression and war years and some flowers to cheer the place up. It so happens my grandfather had a passion and a knack for gardening which he has passed on to his two sons and to me. My in-laws also grew veggies and fruits to supplement the table and only got into flower gardening as their income and standard of living improved once the kids had all been through school and university. I expect this was true for many people. Now that UK society is relatively so much more affluent, most people I know who grow fruit and veg do it for health and environmental reasons whilst many others keep their garden looking good in the same way they dust, vac and decorate - it looks good and maintains the structure and value of the house in good order and if they can get someone else to do it, so much the better. It's more a chore than a passion. However, it's also becoming an aspirational thing so I'm very pleased to see the wide range of gardening programmes and magazines available to help point people in the right direction. Having said that, I'm the only one I know who shops till she drops at plant fairs and markets rather than in designer outlets and fashion malls, and is happy as Larry in old togs, wellies and up to her armpits in plants and soil. The only labels and celebs I get excited about are plants and gardeners. Very eccentric and just a bit too down to earth for most! Obelix - Belgium

• 05/10/2005 11:37 AM

  In reply to

  jen.parry Location: Joined on: 05 Oct 2005 Posts: 1

  Reply | Contact Debate yesterday was fascinating, partly because there was so much agreement between the two sides. My own experience on the edge of a small town is my neighbours are all keen on their own gardens, and have followed the progress of some changes I made to mine with interest, varying degrees of approval - and plenty of advice. I certainly agree with those who said the activity was mood enhancing. J.M.Parry

• 05/10/2005 12:04 PM

  In reply to

  ken69 Location: Norfolk UK Joined on: 23 Nov 2004 Posts: 405

  Reply | Contact Hi Admin...my two young new neighbours don't garden, they pay me to keep it tidy, so they are not building up gardening knowledge, and an estate agent told me recntly that new buyers don't want big gardens. The trend for hard landscaping is another indication of lack of interest.Allotments too are in decline, so guess that the core values have already gorn.When I did gardens for a living, I chose to do the easiest for me which was usually all grass and maybe a hedge, and a few pots to give colour. Borders and deciduous trees turned me off. Another trend is leave it to nature, and call it a wild garden.Am in two minds about your RHS and Gardening World Shows. Too much selling and garden designs not affordable or practical.

• 05/10/2005 12:11 PM	In reply to
  sunflower Location: Joined on: 11 Feb 2004 Posts: 35	Reply | Contact I thought that there was a resurgence of interest in allotment gardens. I have friends in their 30s that have allotments - I think its because they have children and its nice to know where your food comes from and where its grown.

• 05/10/2005 12:17 PM

  In reply to

  miranda Location: Oxfordshire Joined on: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 2,977

  Reply | Contact ---------------- On 10/5/2005 09:44:36 Obelix wrote: Having said that, I'm the only one I know who shops till she drops at plant fairs and markets rather than in designer outlets and fashion malls, and is happy as Larry in old togs, wellies and up to her armpits in plants and soil. The only labels and celebs I get excited about are plants and gardeners. Very eccentric and just a bit too down to earth for most! ---------------- I feel just the same way, Obelix. I hate shopping in town centres, with all the rubbish on the streets, crowds of people and, generally, really awful clothes. But put me in a decent nursery or an open garden and I'll be saying 'Ooooh, look at that' all the way round. Buying plants gives me a thrill that few other purchases can. Then, thinking about where to place them offers hours of entertainment. Same with clothes, I prefer to be comfortable and detest dressing up. As for the actual question, gardening itself may not be core to our identity, but maybe the gardens themselves are. Most people, however busy, want to have plants around their home whilst those who choose to concrete their outside space are looked upon with scorn rather than admiration. For myself, gardening is central to my life and having a good looking garden affects my sense of well-being considerably. If I can keep my tiny patch of the planet healthy and thriving, it feels that life is good and that I'm doing the right thing. From the comments of passers-by, they also like to see a colourful and well-stocked garden.

• 05/10/2005 12:58 PM	In reply to
  filippo lippi Location: Nottingham Joined on: 25 Feb 2005 Posts: 297	Reply | Contact "our identity, but maybe the gardens themselves are" I live in Nottingham and know people who live in back to back terraces without gardens and the City centre is full of new conversions of old lace warehouses and factories into flats. No gardens there. ------------------- Ow! My most of me!

• 06/10/2005 07:56 PM

  In reply to

  Digger Location: Northern UK Joined on: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 4,743

  Reply | Contact Gardening is an activity which has been apparent in the uk for centuries people still enjoy their gardens today my great grandparent were keen gardeners and my grandparent were the same. I am in my thirties (just) and gardening is my main activity i am also the secretary of a very large allotment society (affiliated to the R.H.S. of course) in my society we have 100 allotments all full and we have a waiting list as large as the amount of allotments we have.I would argue that gardening is on the increase but at the same i would say that not all people who "garden" are interested in horticulture many people just enjoy being out doors on their patch regardless of what is grown or how well it is grown. however the amount of local horticultural shows in the area of north east lancs where i live is on the increase and all shows are well supported both by exhibitors and viewing members of the public gardening for many of us is still at the heart of british culture and some of the best gardens in the world are here in the U.K. digger

• 08/10/2005 08:14 AM

  In reply to

  ken69 Location: Norfolk UK Joined on: 23 Nov 2004 Posts: 405

  Reply | Contact Like the idea, Digger, of social allotments, tho never experienced it here in Norfolk. A row of Chrysanths is just about acceptable, but anything more, and you're not a serious gardener. Totally wrong of course, would quite like a mixed allotment including grass and a shed chalet for brewing up etc...The developers are very quick orf the mark in this little town, and sites now down to three from six in five years.

• 09/10/2005 01:32 PM	In reply to
  Digger Location: Northern UK Joined on: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 4,743	Reply | Contact Thanks for the reply ken69. If you ever consider relocating to the windswept pennines and fancy gardening in the shadow of the bewitching pendle hill, I will glady put your name forward for an allotment. digger

• 09/10/2005 04:04 PM	In reply to
  ken69 Location: Norfolk UK Joined on: 23 Nov 2004 Posts: 405	Reply | Contact Would love the scenery, Digger, done a lot of hills, Pendle on the list, isn't there a trio to do.You have it all, and me only Nelson.

• 14/10/2005 04:07 PM

  In reply to

  schol49 Location: Oban Argyll Joined on: 28 Aug 2005 Posts: 81

  Reply | Contact What seems to be missing from this debate is situation or as Makeover TV would call it Location.... Reality Check WE Live on An Island Which gives us a unique and separate Identity from other European neighbours. Therefore we have developed an almost instinctive necessity to grow or cultivate plants gardening is endemic to us to such a degree that even the highest Highrise Dweller feels driven to cultivate Tomatoes, Busy Lizzies,Cheese Plants, Cactus etc and if unable to through lack of the fabled "Green Finger" will Resort to The Abominable Plastic Flowers.... My wife when I first met her was living in a Bedsit and after I moved in stared growing a potatoe and My Mother gave us cuttings. She has also from time to time attempted to grow Avacado Stones, I must say with some success. It is now in the last four years, that her obseession has been given full rein, to such degree that our elderly neighbour who at Ninety Two has decided just to grass over his back garden. Gave My Wife some extra bulbs and peonies for her garden as He obviously recognised our joint enthusiaism for our garden although in my case it`s more concerned with the provision of habitat. My Premise is this Gardening Is Not By Choice rather by instinctive necessity We Do Not Garden because we Want To rather that WE Have To Running Wild in The Wilds of Argyll

• 14/10/2005 04:22 PM

  In reply to

  Digger Location: Northern UK Joined on: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 4,743

  Reply | Contact Yes you could be right gardening is an addiction, i would not be able to cope without my garden, High maintenance is my thing and I don't have any gravel in sight, although just up the road someone has a gravel garden with a couple of pot plants plonked in the middle(looks like the pots where an afterthought) needles to say the garden is lifeless and dull, I do believe that the style of a garden speaks volumes about its owner, so the owner of the gravel look must be as dull and grey and devoid of any imagination as the awful garden, maybe they are going to operate the garden as a builders merchant? digger

• 14/10/2005 04:27 PM	In reply to
  schol49 Location: Oban Argyll Joined on: 28 Aug 2005 Posts: 81	Reply | Contact Yeah but Digger even they needed to pacify their own endemic needs re The Potted Plant if not obviously Yours LOL LOL LOL Running Wild in The Wilds of Argyll