Monday, February 28, 2011

Titchmarsh goes back to his gardening roots

Former Gardener's World host Alan Titchmarsh is to return to his role as a greenfingered guru on TV once more after signing a new deal with ITV.
The star spent six years hosting the BBC2 show from his home in Hampshire and has subsequently presented shows for the channel such as Alan's Garden Secrets.
Titchmarsh already hosts a chat show for ITV1, but his new two-year deal - thought to be worth around Pounds 1m a year - will include a new "peak-time gardening and lifestyle series".
It will be the first time he has presented a gardening show for ITV.
It is unclear how this will affect the BBC's coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show, which Titchmarsh has anchored for many years.
Alongside his ITV shows, 61-year-old Titchmarsh's new deal will also cover merchandising spin-offs for the next five years.
He will host four new series of The Alan Titchmarsh Show over the next two years and further "peak-time projects", following ITV programmes such as All The Queen's Horses and Alan's Walks Of Fame.
His return to hands-on gardening comes as ex-Gardener's World host Monty Don returns to the BBC2 show, replacing Toby Buckland.
Titchmarsh - also a successful novelist and columnist for BBC Gardener's World magazine - said: "This is a great opportunity for anyone involved in broadcasting, and one that I relish taking on.
"My greatest commitment has always been to the people at home who want reliable information put over in an easily accessible manner."
Alison Sharman, ITV director of factual and daytime, said: "Whether as a broadcaster, writer, or horticulturalist, Alan Titchmarsh is a hugely popular and talented figure in so many fields.
"His daytime show and documentary work has had huge appeal with the ITV audience and I'm delighted that we have agreed such an exciting new deal, which further develops our relationship with Alan over the coming years."

Seedy Saturday kicks off gardening season

If you want to participate in a popular community event that kicks off the gardening season in the Comox Valley, volunteer for Seedy Saturday on March 5 at the Florence Filberg Centre.
About 1,600 people are expected to attend, so it will be very busy.
You do not need special expertise to take part because the team leaders in every area will train their team and you will meet yours at the end of February. A volunteer meeting will be held at the Via Rail train station meeting room on Monday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.
There are many jobs to fill, including those in admissions, security, the seed exchange and helping out exhibitors. Altogether, about 50 more men and women to help out are being sought.
If you are interested, contact Luisa Ditmars, the Seedy Saturday co-ordinator, for more details at 250-334-8835 or luisa.seedsat@gmail.com. You can also visit www.comoxvalleygrowersandseedsavers.ca.

TV gardening presenter down in the dumps

THE television presenter Toby Buckland has told how he feels "let-down and humiliated" at being axed from Gardeners' World by the BBC.
After two years as the main presenter of the BBC Two show, Buckland is being replaced by Monty Don.
Don, 55, stepped down in 2008 after suffering a minor stroke but the show was accused of dumbing down with Buckland at the helm.
Buckland, 41, describes his time on the show as "the best and worst of times". He said: "Justifying the decisions of others is never easy and working all the hours God sends makes family time very hard to find."
In the latest edition of Amateur Gardening magazine, Buckland talks for the first time of his distress at BBC bosses deciding not to renew his contract. "There is still a raw wind blowing though me," he says.
But he also says that he has been "deeply humbled" by goodwill messages from viewers. "I will always have gardening and that's what will get me through feeling so let-down and humiliated," he adds.
His appointment in 2008 was controversial. He was chosen ahead of several more seasoned presenters.
The show's revamp angered some, who resented the "gardening made simple" approach. Ratings plunged from a high of five million to two million.
Early last year, the BBC admitted that the new format had failed and announced a return to "proper, grownup gardening".
The new series begins in the spring and Don will present the programme from his garden in Herefordshire.
Don said: "I've really missed the programme so I can't wait to get stuck in and get my hands dirty again."

Home Improvement and Gardening Supplies Retailers in Pakistan

The retail databooks are based on key market value data for eight major product sectors, 16 core retail distribution channels and 62 countries. This profile focuses on and provides data on channel size. It also offers information on main markets sold through the channel, and includes growth forecasts up to 2013.
Scope
-- An overview of total retail value in this country segmented by retail channel
-- The value of sales through this key retail channel from 2003 to 2008 and forecasts to 2013
-- Channel value segmented by the major markets sold through it
Highlights of this title
Home improvement and gardening supplies retailers in Pakistan increased at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1% between 2003 and 2008.
Home improvement market sales accounted for a 62.2% share of the home improvement and gardening supplies retailers format in 2008.
Key reasons to purchase this title
-- Discover which retail channels have been growing and declining in popularity within this country
-- Understand the value of major markets sold through this channel
-- Uncover the future direction of the retail channel with reliable historical data and full five year forecasting
Key Topics Covered:
-- DATAMONITOR VIEW
-- HOME IMPROVEMENT AND GARDENING SUPPLIES RETAILERS IN PAKISTAN
-- APPENDIX
-- LIST OF FIGURES
-- LIST OF TABLES

Pastures new for gardening club

HAZEL Grove's Gardening Club has found itself a new patch. The club, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, is moving premises from the Hazel Grove Civic Hall to the more accessible St Peter's R.C Church, Green Lane. Club chairman Barry Hadfield said it was moving because members were growing older and needed a ground floor base for their meetings and biannual shows. The first meeting at the new base will be on Monday, January 17, at the earlier time of 7.30pm. Guest speaker will be gardening expert Cath Dewar, formerly of Brookside Garden Centre.