Events

RHS Debate: A Clash of the Passions

4 October
The Ondaatje Theatre, Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR

It was nearly ‘trimmers at dawn’ when controversial horticulturist Peter Seabrook spoke in London on 4 October at a state-of-the-nation debate on gardening in Britain. The former Gardeners’ World presenter supported writer and TV broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh in favour of the motion Private Passion or National Indifference – Is gardening still core to the British way of life?. Both told an audience of unquestioningly passionate gardeners that gardening is still central to our lives.

‘Britain has a historic reputation of having the best gardens and gardeners in the world and this is not an idle boast - it comes from centuries of experience,’ Alan said. Peter Seabrook said a healthy future for gardening will centre on home-grown food.

Speakers from both sides, however, put forward compelling cases and a mere 10 percent of votes (161 for the motion, 134 against) separated the outcome of the debate, which was hosted by The Garden, the Society's Journal, and chaired by Jenni Murray of Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.

The reason for such a narrow vote was put down to a strong, intellectual case against the motion by Professor James Hitchmough of the University of Sheffield, seconded by garden designer and lecturer Andrew Wilson. ‘Has gardening ever been core to the British way of life?', asked James Hitchmough. He believed that answering ‘yes’ would indicate a disillusioned and mistaken view of its significance to the public.

In some cases, he said, especially for those involved in the property market, a well-tended garden is considered a liability. Andrew Wilson backed up this by saying that in reality most gardens are used as car parks, storage areas, play areas and wildernesses.

Among the presentations a number of themes were highlighted, such as the growing trend for home-grown and allotment-grown food, concerns for the lack of good horticultural training, and public misconceptions on horticulture. Speakers from the floor at the debate included Jekka McVicar, Roy Lancaster, Roddy Llewellyn, Gay Search, Stephen Anderton, Val Bourne and Joe Swift among nearly 400 noted gardeners, growers, designers and educationalists.

‘We used to be a nation of shopkeepers but now we are a nation of gardeners and we will remain this way whatever happens to the economy because our hearts are still in it,’ said Alan Titchmarsh. He believed this in spite of a more dispiriting side of horticulture such as fewer young people coming in to the industry and decreasing Government funding for public green spaces and horticultural research.

Andrew Wilson believed that in the case of decreasing formal horticultural education the spotlight would be turned on to teaching beginning at home. ‘It is essential that we distil this gardening information with a missionary zeal,’ he said.

The results

The debate generated a number of topics which can be viewed as Adobe Acrobat pdfs.

Are we a nation of gardeners? (54KB)
The statistics …. and damn lies (43KB)
The future of gardening (31KB)
Garden design is killing gardening (31KB)
Little seedlings - encouraging children (43KB)
Garden golden oldies (41KB)
TV shows - blessing or curse (42KB)
Government (national and local) apathy (40KB)
Crisis in study of horticulture (42KB)
Loss of front gardens (40KB)
Gardening as a threat to the natural world (37KB)
Gardening as therapy (39KB)
Allotments (27KB)
Comparisons to Europe and the World (36KB)

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Have your say

Visit the RHS Online bulletin board to add your views on the debate