The BBC series Ground Force, that aired between 1997 and 2005, hosted by Alan
Titchmarsh, Charlie Dimmock and Diarmuid Gavin, was the original gardening
‘makeover’ series.
Chelsea Flower Show has also seen a resurgence in the fashion for large trees
and shrubs in recent years, many imported from abroad.
Patrick Courtown, who used to run a landscaping business, said imports are
more likely to bring disease.
“There have been diseases that were thought to have originated from nurseries
in Holland that have hit shrub and trees.”
The most recent disease, ash dieback, is now on 155 sites around Britain. The
disease was imported from abroad on young saplings and could also have blown
over in the wind.
The Earl said the UK should be growing more of our own trees, especially
native trees like ash that are so easy to grow.
He also called for clearer labelling so that gardeners can be sure of where
trees were grown.
“If we look at our own home-grown it would stop the reliance on imports and we
might have fewer diseases.”
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