I will weed out the use of plastic on Gardeners’ World, vows Don
MONTY DON has pledged to cut down on the amount of plastic used on Gardeners’ World after admitting the programme uses too much non-recyclable material behind the scenes.
The 62-year-old said that while he was not sure the team could go completely plastic-free, he was keen to see how little they would be able to use.
The first episode of the new series will see Don “embarking on a mission to reduce the use of plastic in his garden”, including looking at alternative containers for seed sowing.
“I am going to try and drastically cut down on the amount of plastic we use in the garden,” he told BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine.
“Longmeadow might look very artisanal, but behind the scenes we get through a lot of plastic, from seed module trays to sacks of vermiculite.
“I’m not going to ban it, but I will be interested to see how little I can use.”
Last year Gardeners’ World celebrated 50 years on Britain’s TV screens, prompting Don to rethink how gardeners source their materials.
“Do we need to propagate in seed trays or could some plants do just as well in outdoor seed beds? Could we make our own compost instead of buying it in the bag?” he added.
“I’m not at all sure where it will lead, but I am very interested in finding out and sharing the process with viewers.” Don first started presenting Gardeners’ World in 2003 until he took time off in 2008 after suffering a small stroke. He returned to the show in 2011.
The BBC has begun to change its ways over plastic use after its landmark series Blue Planet II brought attention to the blight of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans.
Last month the corporation announced plans to ban single-use plastic from its operations by 2020.
Plastic cups and cutlery are being taken away from BBC sites by the end of this year. Currently visitors and staff get through about two million plastic cups every year.
Tony Hall, the BBC director-general, said he wants the corporation to “lead the way” in tackling the problem of avoidable waste and single-use plastic.
Gardeners’ World returns on Friday at 8.30pm on BBC Two. The programme will also look at how to create a garden in a tiny backyard and how to address winter damage.