Alan Titchmarsh, the renowned gardener and former Gardeners' World host, has shared the emotional real reason for leaving his Grade II listed Hampshire home. At 77, he and his wife Alison are downsizing to a single-storey bungalow in Surrey with a smaller garden. Writing his final column from the garden he has tended for over two decades, Titchmarsh confessed his eyes were full of tears.
Why Titchmarsh Decided to Downsize
In BBC Gardeners' World magazine, Titchmarsh explained: “At the time of writing, this will be my last missive penned from the house and garden into which we moved in 2002. Because…it’s time. Running a large garden – around four acres of land – is a huge undertaking. The rewards are enormous but the responsibility is weighty.” He added that to continue writing and broadcasting, he needed help, and he was lucky to have found a handful of people who were a godsend.
Emotional Farewell Inspired by Queen Elizabeth II
Titchmarsh drew inspiration from the late Queen Elizabeth II to describe his feelings. He said: “It’s time to leave while I have the choice, rather than being forced out by circumstances beyond my control. It was Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who reminded us that grief is the price we pay for love.” He continued: “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.”
Looking Back and Moving Forward
This is not the first time Titchmarsh has spoken about his attachment to the garden attached to his five-bedroom home. He told The Times: “I love that garden more than I’ve loved anything I’ve ever made. I’ve given it a quarter of a century of love and care.” However, he remains stoic: “But when we hand over the key and close the gate, I’m not looking back. I can’t.” Despite downsizing, Titchmarsh is not slowing down. He recently launched his own YouTube channel, Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh, which has over 100,000 subscribers. He expressed delight, saying it stunned him “because I’m never terribly confident in what I do, but it’s gaining a thousand subscribers a day, which is kind of wow. I’m thrilled because it’s sharing skills.”
