Monty Don, the beloved gardening expert and lead presenter of Gardeners’ World, has revealed a surprising insight following his recent trip along the Rhine.
The 70-year-old broadcaster journeyed from the river’s source in the Swiss Alps down to the North Sea, documenting his experiences in a new three-part BBC Two series launching tonight, January 16.
Don’s expedition went beyond simply observing plants. Reflecting on the human element of the gardens he visited, he told The Times: “People are always more interesting than plants.”
The Gardeners’ World host described the voyage as more of a cultural exploration than a horticultural one. While he admitted he hadn’t necessarily gained new knowledge about flora, he discovered plenty about the communities tending them.
The Swiss, Germans, and Dutch, he observed, share a passion for gardening similar to that of the British, yet their approaches differ considerably, Mirror reports.
He explained: “The Swiss are irresistibly drawn to tidiness and neatness. The Germans garden very enthusiastically but they do so as if it’s a job, in the same way as they will clean their houses or look after their cars.”
Even the seemingly free-spirited Dutch, he noted, are methodical and organised. “They’re incredibly methodical and organised,” Don added. Nevertheless, he stressed that these green spaces are far from dull.
Across Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands, innovative projects have transformed both private gardens and public parks, often leaving a lasting impact on entire communities. Frequently, Don noted, these initiatives originate with a single passionate individual or a small group of residents. “In the end, government is never going to do these things — it always has to come from an individual or a few individuals with passion and with knowledge, and they get the ball rolling.”
One memorable example arose in the village of Osterfingen, where Don was more impressed by how residents had revitalised their community than by the plants themselves. “It is about how gardens can change people’s lives. That’s the point,” he said.
Monty’s own life has long been intertwined with gardening, but his influence extends well beyond his personal plot. Since becoming the lead presenter on Gardeners’ World, he has inspired countless viewers with practical advice, inventive planting ideas, and an infectious enthusiasm for nature.
Away from the studio, Don is a devoted family man. He married his wife Sarah in 1983, and the couple are often seen with their dogs at their Herefordshire home. Together they have three children — Adam, Tom, and Freya — and Monty frequently emphasises the importance of balancing work with family life, though he rarely turns down the chance to explore the world through a horticultural lens.
The new series promises to showcase the diversity of gardens along one of Europe’s most iconic waterways, highlighting the passion and dedication of the people behind them. For Don, it is the stories of those who cultivate these spaces that leave the most lasting impression.
“People are always more interesting than plants,” he concludes, reminding audiences that gardening is as much about community, creativity, and heritage as it is about soil and seedlings.
