Alan Titchmarsh has opened up about the emotional decision to leave the garden he has spent more than two decades creating, admitting he wants to move on before circumstances leave him with no choice.
Emotional Farewell
Writing in BBC Gardeners' World magazine, the veteran gardener and broadcaster, 77, opened up about trading his stunning Grade II-listed Hampshire abode for a new home in Surrey. The former Gardeners’ World host recently announced that he and his wife Alison have sold their £3.5 million home and downsized to a single-storey bungalow.
Referencing Shakespeare's famous words, Titchmarsh wrote: “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” He said the quote felt particularly fitting when saying goodbye to a garden that had been developed over almost a quarter of a century.
Reasons for Leaving
The 77-year-old acknowledged some readers may wonder why he would leave a place that means so much to him, but explained that maintaining a large garden has become an increasingly demanding responsibility. Running around four acres of land, he said, requires significant effort and ongoing help. While he has been fortunate to work alongside trusted assistants over the years, Titchmarsh admitted there comes a point when managing a workforce becomes a burden.
He also pointed to the realities of getting older, joking that he still thinks of himself as being “40-something”. “While I might be hale and hearty at the moment, I cannot count on such good fortune indefinitely,” he wrote. “It’s time to leave while I have the choice, rather than being forced out by circumstances beyond my control.”
New Beginnings
Despite leaving behind a much-loved garden, Titchmarsh is not stepping away from gardening altogether. Instead, he plans to begin work on a new, smaller plot of around an acre and a half. He said he currently has the energy and enthusiasm to create another garden and, once the initial work is completed, believes he will be able to manage it himself.
The move has not come without heartache. Reflecting on the property, Titchmarsh said he would be “a heartless soul” if he did not find leaving “a wrench”, adding that the garden meant even more to him than the house itself.
Memories and Optimism
He recalled arriving at the property when there was little more than rough grass, fruit trees and several mature specimens, before gradually transforming it over the years with features including a meadow, wildlife pond and copse. As he prepared to hand the garden over to a new family, Titchmarsh reflected on the memories it holds, from raising children to welcoming grandchildren.
“It was Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who reminded us that grief is the price we pay for love,” he wrote. He added: “I cannot imagine ever loving a garden as much as the one I am leaving, which has seen my children grow up and echoed to the sounds of grandchildren... and now that I come to write these words I freely confess that my eyes are full of tears.”
However, he ended on a note of optimism, telling readers: “But I will recover. The new garden will become my next sanctuary.”
Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh returns to ITV on Sunday, June 28, at 9.30am.
