Gardeners' World Season 4 Episode 22 Series 4 - Episode 22 | Shaftesbury

Series 4 - Episode 22 | Shaftesbury

On this episode of Gardeners' World, host Monty Don visits Shaftesbury, a small historic town in Dorset, to explore its gardens and meet some of the local gardeners.

Monty begins his visit at Gold Hill, a steep cobbled street famous for its appearance in the Hovis bread advert. Here, he meets year-round gardeners John and Di who have created a beautiful terraced garden in their steep front yard. Monty is impressed by the couple's hard work and ingenuity, and shares tips on making the most of a small space.

Next, Monty visits the Abbey Gardens, a public garden located within the ruins of Shaftesbury Abbey. Here, he meets head gardener Jackie who has filled the garden with colourful perennials, including dahlias, salvias, and phlox. Monty learns about the garden's history and the challenges of working with a site that was once a religious stronghold.

Monty also visits a more informal garden at the Shaftesbury School, where he meets teacher and gardener Adam. Together, they explore the school's vegetable garden and polytunnel, and discuss the benefits of gardening for young people. Monty is impressed by the school's commitment to sustainable living and the variety of crops they are growing.

In addition to these visits, Monty also offers practical advice for gardeners at home. He demonstrates how to plant out winter salad crops and shows viewers how to take cuttings from herbs. He also shares tips for propagating dahlia tubers and explains how to prepare planting sites for spring bulbs.

Overall, this episode of Gardeners' World offers a diverse range of garden visits and practical tips for viewers to use in their own gardens. From small urban spaces to historic ruins and school gardens, there is something for every type of gardener to enjoy.