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More Gardeners World Woe
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Message 1.Â
Posted by Her outdoors (U1450108) on Thursday, 23rd April 2009
The more we post about the disappointing and uniteresting programme that Gardeners World has become the more likely we are to get some results. So here is my ten pen'orth.
At the moment Gardeners World is a waste of air time. April/May are the busiest months yet we have seen very little actual gardening.
The series so far has spent far too long on non-gardening matters. It seems they are clueless how to fill an hour long programme.
If they want to talk about design be positive and advise about what does well in a shady position and show examples.
If they want to coach a group of individuals with an interest in something specific in Carole's garden just get on with it.
If they want to promote growing vegetables then plant some and not waste air time on handing out packets of seeds from an ice cream van.
It is a gardening programme, aimed at gardeners old and new. It claims to want to get back to basics, but is all talk and no action. -
Message 2
Posted by Helen (U7966981) on Thursday, 23rd April 2009
Whilst i'm still happy there is a Gardener's World programme, for me this series feels too much like it's been given a Top-Gear style format, which isn't fitting for a serious gardening show. Too many fillers and not enough meaningful features.
I don't like the "Hot or Not feature" or the "30 minute project" and whilst the Gnome feature last week was quirky, it's certainly not what I tune into the programme for.
I tuned into Beechgrove for this first time last week. They manage to fit more gardening into 30 mins than GW does in an hour long slot! -
Message 3
Posted by David K (U2221642) on Thursday, 23rd April 2009
Gardener's World programme, for me this series feels too much like it's been given a Top-Gear style formatÂ
The mind boggles! Stig, how fast are your runners?
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Message 4
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Thursday, 23rd April 2009
I couldn't give a fig about cars as long as they get me, my family and occasional plants, compost and obelisks from A to B in one piece but Top Gear does at least make me laugh uproariously and my 14yr old daughter too.
I do care deeply about gardening at all levels of skill and interest but this GW drives Possum from the room and me to fumes of frustration and disbelief.
Please Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú get it back on track with something for all gardeners of every level of experience and skill. Be brave and abandon the dumbing and the contrived and set a new standard for good production values and quality of content. Plants and gardening are exciting on their own merits and don't need meeja studies populist gimmickry. -
Message 5
Posted by fairyhairymary (U13812723) on Thursday, 23rd April 2009
I would like to add my name to the ever increasing number of protestors. Toby Buckland has all the personality of a sheet of wet cardboard. The new features are an insult to the intelligence.
Everyone associated with this fiasco needs to hang their heads in shame and admit they got it badly wrong. -
Message 6
Posted by Pumpkin (U13922940) on Thursday, 23rd April 2009
Come on people give them a chance it' a new garden and new format,I for one am tired of all the constant moaning.
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Message 7
Posted by Clem at isa (U7260604) on Thursday, 23rd April 2009
I've been looking at some other "garden forums" and some of them are quite pleased with the new presenter and show and I don't come across the moaning there is on here.
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Message 8
Posted by Clem at isa (U7260604) on Thursday, 23rd April 2009
I agree with you an awful lot of moaning - maybe some are out of step and need to look around at some other websites to see what's being said there on the more positive side.
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Message 9
Posted by Ariadne Knickerbocker (U4534559) on Thursday, 23rd April 2009
Hi Clem
Can you post a link to the other forums and websites. The ones I've looked at all seem to be pretty much down on GW so it would be interesting to see some more positive comments and find out what people are getting out of it. -
Message 10
Posted by SilverGalanthus (U13903849) on Thursday, 23rd April 2009
Do we really need yet another thread about how awful GW is? There are so many already.
May there be some sort of cohesion to all this and keep the subject to a few threads perhaps? -
Message 11
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Thursday, 23rd April 2009
Feelings and opinions are clearly very strong and I see no harm in approaching the discussion from different angles. You don't have to read them all.
Personally I want to see GW improve and grow into a proper gardening programme and I firmly believe the Beeb, production team and presenters need pointing in the right direction or our crown jewel of a gardening programme will forever be substituted with so much fake glitter. -
Message 12
Posted by Eladekralc (U3040105) on Friday, 24th April 2009
The problem being is that the same things are being mooted all the time. We know certain people do not like and some do, but another thread saying the same things is not needed and possibly a way of knowing how many individuals are actually posting, as I think some people on here think they are the majority, alas as I have said elsewhere over 2m watch the program, yet I think you will find only 30+ here don't like it and and equal measure elsewhere.
It does not add up to much,no matter what programme it is you will get some who do not like it. I didn't enjoy the changes to Top Gear but realise I am in the minority and watch for what it is. -
Message 13
Posted by Ariadne Knickerbocker (U4534559) on Friday, 24th April 2009
I think what we need is 'Statsman' Goldilocks to provide us with the statistics on
How many threads there are on this subject.
How many different posters there are.
How many threads the most ubiquitous posters have posted on and whether the content actually differs from post to post, thread to thread and in some cases whether it is actually intelligible.
How many WUMS/Trolls there are and whether their input has thrown the statistics out and is there a way of compensating for this.
How many normal people are there in favour of the new GW?
What the Belgians might do under these circumstances.
THe list is of course endless but I think we need to know. -
Message 14
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Friday, 24th April 2009
Edal...As a non car minded person I did not watch the old Top Gear as it was of no interest. If I were a car enthusiast I would probably enjoy the car bits on the new Top Gear and I do find the exploits of the team and their interaction very funny. I can't actually see the attraction of a programme about what's under the bonnet or how to change a tyre although testing more popular cars would clearly be helpful to some.
However, there's a bit more to gardening than climbing in and turning on the ignition. There are seasonal tasks and new ideas and old tips to be passed on at all levels and that's what GW is supposed to be about. If they want a new audience, make a new programme but do not abandon and alienate the faithful gardening public.
As with anything in a democracy, only the most interested and concerned will ever complain about falling standards or injustices. If they complain long and loud enough, something eventally gets done. That's how we got votes for women, anti discrimination laws, schooling and health care for all. GW may be small potatoes by comparison but it's still a large chunk of the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú2 audience that's been treated like mushrooms - kept in the dark and had loads of cr*p poured over them.
As you have said yourself on another thread, this format is awful and full of in-fill. Why try and prevent others from posting their opinions in the hope of getting improvements? -
Message 15
Posted by Bluedoyenne (U2341157) on Friday, 24th April 2009
I think Elad is actually criticising the wrong 'side' so to speak. An interesting exercise in misinformation and manipulation is going on over in Buckland's blog. Amazingly positive after positive comment make for truly unbelievable reading - and then one poster has come out and described what is going on. (And Elad, or should I call you 'Dale', before you come charging back with the reply that the positives are for real, please join the real debate and have a look at Points of View for GW first where you'll find the same comments as on this message board but from different posters).
Pathetic or what -
Message 16
Posted by Helen (U7966981) on Friday, 24th April 2009
"I agree with you an awful lot of moaning - maybe some are out of step"
So at 27 i'm out of step?!
I have only been watching GW for about 2years properly, so I am not harking back to the good old days of the programme, but I do want a programme that treats gardening more seriously and doesn't patronise me. Likewise I am not an experienced gardener and have only been gardening seriously for two years, so I would like a show which covers all the basics, and that is relevent to the season. I feel I won't get this with the new GW and would be best off tuning into the much more informative Beechgrove! -
Message 17
Posted by Bluedoyenne (U2341157) on Friday, 24th April 2009
Clam at isa, if the other 'websites' you are referring to is Buckland's blog, please see message 15 above. If there are any other sites with predominantly positive messages about the show, please let us have a link to them.
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Message 18
Posted by Stormy_Pink (U13912310) on Friday, 24th April 2009
Eladekralc,
Becasue you are sprouting such rubbish I have just spent quite some time looking at the last two pages on this board and all the threads concerning the new GW series. There are considerably more than 30 people who are unhappy about the show.
There were 200 different posters. The sentiment expressed by 78% of them was that GW has become dumbed down rubbish. Only 22% of the posters were positive about the show and a couple of those were trolls
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Message 19
Posted by Clem at isa (U7260604) on Saturday, 25th April 2009
Found the Link hope it works! -
Message 20
Posted by Ariadne Knickerbocker (U4534559) on Saturday, 25th April 2009
Hi CLem
Thanks for the link. I just looked through that thread and you are right it starts with everyone thinking the episode at the beginning of April was OK. Then by the 17th of April - the week of the "GNOMES" the posts were becoming distinctly negative and echoing much of what has been said on this board although possibly in a slightly milder fashion.
So it would appear that is yet another forum where people aren't happy about GW in its present state. -
Message 21
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Sunday, 26th April 2009
As I recall most people on here gave the first programme modified approval hoping it would build to better things as the team settled. Then we got the week of drivel and Cbeebies and gnomes. I recorded this Friday's, as always since we're out then, and have sat down to watch it twice but then fallen asleep........
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Message 22
Posted by groovygran (U2934690) on Sunday, 26th April 2009
I didn't find the msges on the 'Garden News' site particularly positive. Thought that they were rather trivial, actually.
Couldn't quite see the point of planting a mulberry or peach tree. I thought the new GW would be aimed at smaller gardens on new-builds, how to make best use of a minute space. Those trees take up a lot of room. And mulberries, I thought took a long time to mature and fruit.
Beginning to lose interest in this series fast, and I can always use some help! -
Message 23
Posted by ameliawhistler (U13934220) on Sunday, 26th April 2009
I agree, as a past resident of Aberdeen, I know just how difficult gardening can be up there!!However, the presenters did give you useful tips and information.........not make you feel inadequate for not measuring every last seed drill and building fancy garden features.We've been gardening for nearly 35 years and want to know how to get the best out of our existing garden.It's too late to start again!!
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Message 24
Posted by thelovelynippy (U13938095) on Tuesday, 28th April 2009
Totally agree with you. We have been regular watchers of GW for many years and feel this new series is a bit of a joke. We say every week now "Geoff would be horrified" at this! I know its easy to criticise and to hark back to the old days but the actual gardening content is minimal.The pond that was made last week, was dangerous for small children and cats and had no lowers edges to allow frogs to enter the water. The best part is watching Carol in her garden in Devon - proper garden work. Jo and Alys are likeable and talented but all the joking around is somewhat staged. Please Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú let us get back to some good honest gardening. Christine's Garden - now that deserves to return and please Monty now you are feeling better, which is very good news - start gardening on TV again (with Carol) Happy gardening to all.
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Message 25
Posted by TheHejhog (U7657776) on Tuesday, 28th April 2009
Many of us do not have established gardens, and its exactly these people who have been looking for some information on how to get started: because growing your own is the latest must-do, or financial necessity. For them the new format GW is a godsend.
People who live on new developments often only have a patch of earth which the developer has planted with grass (if you are lucky).
We moved house and inherited a concrete patch at the front (which I ripped up) and a wilderness at the back.
Previous series of GW were not applicable to us, because they started every item off saying: "It's April and now it's time to prune the doodle-foodle." Or: "The blahblia has overgrown its little corner in the hot border, and needs to be transplanted." Great if you have an established garden, but nonsense if you are left with bare earth, or a patch of nettles. Or both, as in our case.
We watched because Monty is an entertaining presenter, but learnt very little. We really did try: my wife would sit with a notepad to make notes; but often it would remain empty. Only when Joe started his allotment in the last series did the notebook start filling up.
And we never watched Alan "put in a deck" Titchmarsh. I am glad he has chosen an alternative career.
Hejhog -
Message 26
Posted by Calendula (U2331338) on Tuesday, 28th April 2009
I thought the new GW would be aimed at smaller gardens on new-builds, how to make best use of a minute space. Those trees take up a lot of room. And mulberries, I thought took a long time to mature and fruitÂ
But why? Why should it only be aimed at beginners/people with small gardens/new builds? There are some of us who have large established gardens who would like to see our requirements/achievements reflected as well. And I won't say "lucky enough to have" because it's not down to luck - it's been achieved through hard slog - both in the garden itself and behind a desk in order to pay for it! -
Message 27
Posted by hypercharleyfarley (U7444019) on Tuesday, 28th April 2009
Hello Hedjhog - I think it's a bit unfair to criticise AT when you said you hadn't even watched his programmes. As for the decking, that was (if I remember correctly) a part of the gardening make-over programme series, and not GW. Ma.
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Message 28
Posted by grow your own veg (U11933408) on Tuesday, 28th April 2009
What you moaners got to remember that GW is going back to basics for reason that more people are taking up gardening as past time at is fastest rate since WW2 especially Veg growing. For that reason GW have decided to aim at beginners a lot this year. Myslef I have beeen gardening for many years and still find it interesting going back to basics.
like I said before on here your not forced to watch. GW VIEWING FIGURE ARE UP SO THERE MUST MANY PEOPLE ENJOYING GW, STOP YOUR MOANING IT'S BORING YAWN YAWN YAWN.. -
Message 29
Posted by toonia (U4760062) on Tuesday, 28th April 2009
Gardener Jim, if you find what I call constructive criticism "boring moaning YAWN YAWN YAWN" then I turn your comment back on you -you are not obliged to read it.
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Message 30
Posted by roseaholic (U13922482) on Tuesday, 28th April 2009
Dear Gardenerjim
At the end of the day, there are people on this board who are moaning about those of us who are moaning about GW, for moaning about GW, and people who are moaning about the people who are moaning about the people who are moaning about GW, and there are people who are just moaning about GW or just moaning generally about moaning, so people need to either stop moaning about moaning or just stop moaning.
But people will only moan about that. So why bother.
there's nothing wrong with moaning you know.
Ok i'll shut up... -
Message 31
Posted by joolsgreen (U8428658) on Tuesday, 28th April 2009
I agree. Moaning is a waste of breath. If you are bored by the programme switch it off and go and plant something.
It will take a while to get used to this new format but at least the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú are giving us a gardening programme.
I wouldn't mind a few more on the box to give us a bit of choice. Then maybe all the moaners could watch something more to their liking.
I like Toby he is down to earth and he,at least, tries to give us some new takes on the beloved subject of growing. -
Message 32
Posted by TallyHo (U2364821) on Tuesday, 28th April 2009
It will take a while to get used to this new format but at least the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú are giving us a gardening programme.Â
So we're all supposed to be grateful? I think not. It's our license money (£135 per annum) and I for one, feel I'm being short-changed.
GW used to be an interesting and inspiring programme for 40 years and most people, amateurs and experts alike, are desperately sad and quite angry to see it degenerate into another superficial 'lifestyle' show (if it's on at all). Beechgrove manages to get it right without needing to rope in Sara Cox, gnomes or ice cream vans, i.e. it gets on with the gardening!
Toby gives us new takes alright, the week before he advised planting chilli seedlings "be careful with them and don't touch the leaves"... it's the roots you don't disturb! Handing out tomato seeds six weeks too late, sowing a wild flower meadow into topsoil, the list of advice which is either plain wrong or just not best practice gets longer week by week. -
Message 33
Posted by greenPottypat (U13943480) on Friday, 1st May 2009
I agree that the new programme may take a bit of getting used to but I just like my Friday night gardening fix. ( Could do without Hot or Not!). What really annoys me is yet another missed programme (May 1) because of snooker - now that really must be a minority interest surely!
There is little enough for the many gardeners in the TV audience without throwing our programme off for snooker, tennis or anything else.
Hands off Gardeners World! -
Message 34
Posted by Clem at isa (U7260604) on Saturday, 2nd May 2009
It seems that the forum on the other site is becoming more and more dissatisfied too - so I stand corrected!
I'll just have to keep tuning in to Beechgrove as usual for my fix. -
Message 35
Posted by Clem at isa (U7260604) on Saturday, 2nd May 2009
"I didn't find the msges on the 'Garden News' site particularly positive. Thought that they were rather trivial, actually."
Each to their own - I like their forum as it's generally friendly and helpful and doesn't tend to run people's responses down, even when some of the questions / answers may seem trivial they're obviously important enough to the person asking for or responding to the information, and they don't make me wish I'd never posted my comment in the first place. -
Message 36
Posted by David K (U2221642) on Saturday, 2nd May 2009
TalleyHo - The UK TV licence does in fact cost £142.50!
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Message 37
Posted by ArtemisHP (U12217956) on Saturday, 2nd May 2009
The more we post about.. Gardeners World... the more likely we are to get some results..Â
I fear that this is rather unlikely.
The Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú will take any notice of its viewers only when it's made to EARN its income. -
Message 38
Posted by TallyHo (U2364821) on Saturday, 2nd May 2009
David K: Really???
Makes no difference as for various reasons I'm not renewing mine. There's nothing on. -
Message 39
Posted by mommydoos (U2592301) on Sunday, 3rd May 2009
Why don't the presenters (if they have to get out & about!) visit people's gardens & show them how to take cuttings/propagate plants in situ? We could all identify with that surely?
mommy xxx -
Message 40
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Sunday, 3rd May 2009
Nice idea but expensive in terms of logistics and insurance. Why can't they just do all the seasonal jobs properly and in close up as before from Carol's garden for the mature plants and beds and Greenacres for the new stuff? It can't be that hard to put together a coherent plan of action and filming.
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Message 41
Posted by saintmissfluffy (U12195645) on Sunday, 3rd May 2009
I am finding I love beechgrove more than gardenrs world at the moment. They do more trials and follow things through.
They also tend to garden more the way I think people actually garden! I want to watch a show where they plant a seed, grow it on, plant it out,prune it.If they kill it tell me why!
The more tips I can get the better. -
Message 42
Posted by thelovelynippy (U13938095) on Sunday, 10th May 2009
Three cheers for Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Scotland and the delighful Beechgrove gardening series. Real sensible gardening hosted by real gardeners. We are enjoying watching with fond memories of the "olden" days of Gardeners World (we are not old -just keen gardeners!) We would even like to see AT returning! The daft performance at The Malvern Show was unbelievable and cringemaking.
Please,let us have Carol as key presenter with Joe growing veggies again. Please listen to the viewers Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú- we are not happy!!! -
Message 43
Posted by ArtemisHP (U12217956) on Sunday, 10th May 2009
(we are not old -just keen gardeners!)Â
How sad! Do the old have to apologise for their age?
My mother and grandmother would object violently.
We would even like to see AT returning!Â
Perhaps.
I don't know why but my mother always refers to him as "that foppish man." It may be his habit of admiring his own fingernails that she finds insufferable!
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