Alan Titchmarsh, the celebrated gardener and Gardeners' World presenter, has revealed he was 'full of tears' as he explained the genuine reason for leaving his beloved Grade II-listed home in Hampshire. The 77-year-old has moved to a single-storey dwelling in Surrey with a more modest garden, a decision he described as emotionally challenging.
Writing in BBC Gardeners' World magazine, Titchmarsh shared that his final piece from the garden he has tended for over 20 years was a poignant farewell. He said: “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.”
Emotional Farewell to a Beloved Garden
Titchmarsh acknowledged that he drew inspiration from the late Queen Elizabeth II when attempting to articulate 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. 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.”
The gardener, who has been open about the difficulty of the move for him and his wife Alison, emphasised the practical reasons behind the decision. He explained that maintaining the large garden required significant help, and he wanted to continue his writing and broadcasting career without the burden.
New Beginnings with YouTube Channel
Despite the emotional toll, Titchmarsh remains stoic. 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. But when we hand over the key and close the gate, I’m not looking back. I can’t.”
While downsizing, Titchmarsh is not slowing down. He recently launched his own YouTube channel, Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh, which has already amassed over 100,000 subscribers. Expressing his surprise at the channel's success, he said: “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.”
