Monty shares his gardening passion

Best known for presenting the BBC’s Gardeners’ World, Monty has travelled around the world visiting amazing gardens and has even created his own organic garden from scratch.

Gardening is his lifelong passion and pleasure.

“I’ve been a gardener since I was about seven,” he said.

“There’s something about being outdoors.

“It means you’ve invested in a process that has its own natural rhythm and that is something which has largely been lost from modern life, where everything’s just a click of a button away.”

Monty is a big believer in people connecting to the earth through gardening and in the personal satisfaction and health benefits that people obtain from it.

“Having your hands in the soil is very healing.

“It’s now more important than ever that everyone gets access to growing things. When you choose to grow something in your own garden, there’s something rather unsullied about that.”

This time of year is Monty’s favourite because of the promise spring holds.

“I get a great sense that everything is getting better with each day,” he said.

“There’s a growing sense of excitement. I love high summer as well, but nothing beats a perfect May morning.”

Monty is very much looking forward to coming to Mansfield, as he firmly believes that people enjoy their gardens and flower boxes as much in the centre of a town as they do in the countryside.

Down to Earth - An Evening with Monty Don is at Mansfield Palace Theatre on Sunday 27th April at 7.30pm. Tickets are £18.45 Full / £17.43 Concessions. Call the Box Office on Mansfield 633133 or see www.mansfield.gov.uk/palacetheatre.