AG readers’ difference of opinion...
I HAVE to respond to the news item (AG, 5 December) to say it’s the biggest heap of industrial snobbery and backward-thinking drivel I’ve read in a long time. These opinions from the pompous in our industry who care not a jot about the local environment, let alone the planet as a whole, just make the industry look out of touch – not to mention making themselves appear to be a clique more concerned with protecting their inflated incomes than protecting the planet for future generations. They also underestimate the intelligence of the gardeners who have made the change and feel nothing but frustration that non-peat composts are not readily available, and that they have to waste precious time searching for it as the larger garden centres sell peat-based because they can make a few more pennies from them.
Monty Don may not fit into their snobbish little box, but he has far more knowledge of what the general gardening public want and of what they can achieve. Starting plants from seed is no longer the scary magic reserved for specialists – I think they’d be surprised at just how many non-qualified growers produce amazing gardens of both ornamentals and edibles. They should hang up the towel.
Dorinda Sweales, via email
I TOO think Monty Don is very irritating and only speaks what he is directed. We can’t change things overnight, and I would rather listen to Alan Titchmarsh who does use non-peat compost but doesn’t spout like Don does.
Alan, at least, came up through gardening by college and as a young man trained the right way. He is like Peter Seabrook – a complete horticulturist – and did not change direction halfway through. I only watch Gardeners’ World because I like to see plants, etc. And although Alan presents other things, he never forgets his roots. I find Monty very annoying and pompous, too.
Jenny Baxter, via email