Charlie Dimmock, the 59-year-old gardening expert best known for her role on the BBC's Ground Force, has lived a life deeply rooted in the New Forest. She grew up in the Hampshire village of Wellow, attended Wellow Primary School and the Mountbatten School in Romsey, where her love for gardening was sparked by spring and summer gardening classes. During her teenage years, she worked part-time at a local garden centre in Romsey.
After training in amenity horticulture at Winchester, she earned a BTEC Diploma in Amenity Horticulture and a National Technical Certificate in Turf Culture and Sporting Management in Somerset. She also completed a year's training at the prestigious Chelsea Physic Garden in London. Following her studies, she worked at Romsey Garden Centre, where she met TV producer John Thornicroft, who later produced Ground Force.
Dimmock remains faithful to her origins, currently living in the New Forest with her horse. In 2011, her property was refurbished with a new kitchen and a £9,000 Aga. The New Forest is a highly desirable area, reflected in property prices. According to Rightmove, the average house price over the past 12 months was £467,956. Detached properties sold for an average of £642,424, semi-detached for £395,774, and terraced for £331,487. Prices are similar to the previous year and 8% down on the 2022 peak of £507,968.
