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The joys of gardening grow on the young: Amount 25 to 34-year-olds spend on …

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  • Frances Tophill, the horticulturalist, welcomed return to ‘homeliness’
  • Chelsea Flower Show was dominated by young designers
  • Report shows young homeowners spent an average of £747 on outdoor spaces in past year
  • Veteran designer Cleve West welcomed
    the influx of young blood
  • Gardening writer Bunny Guinness criticised ‘arrangements’ rather than designs

By
Ben Spencer
and Eleanor Harding


Published:

15:21 EST, 26 May 2014


|
Updated:

17:09 EST, 26 May 2014

Forget clubs and pubs – today’s 20-somethings like nothing better than pottering in the garden.

Traditionally the domain of pensioners and the middle-aged, gardening is rapidly being taken up by a new generation of horticulturists.

The Chelsea Flower Show was dominated by young designers who received glittering accolades for their fresh ideas.

Love Your Garden presenters (from left to right) Frances Tophill, Alan Titchmarsh, Katie Rushworth and sitting in front David Domoney

Love Your Garden presenters (from left to right) Frances Tophill, Alan Titchmarsh, Katie Rushworth and sitting in front David Domoney

But ordinary people are also are also taking up gardening at a younger age, new research reveals.

A study of homeowners reveals that young people spent more than double the average on their gardens in the last year.

Experts say living the good life – exemplified by the 1970s hit show – has become more fashionable than ever before, with baking, cooking and gardening all seeing huge take-up.

Frances Tophill, the horticulturalist and presenter of ITV’s Love Your Garden, said: ‘Recently we’ve witnessed a real throwback to ‘homeliness’, with gardening, baking and cookery, to knitting and crafts coming back into popular culture.

‘It’s interesting that this trend is growing against the rise of technology and in a post-recessionary climate – there is a sense of holding on to traditional pastimes in an increasingly fast-paced, modern society.’

A national report of homeowner habits, published by Lloyds Bank Insurance, reveals that homeowners aged 25 to 34 spent an average of £747 on their outdoor spaces in the past year, more than double the average spend of £366.

The firm’s Britain at Home report revealed that 19 per cent of young homeowners now own a greenhouse and 29 per cent have invested in new plants for their gardens in the past year.

In the study of 2,000 British homeowners, a third of young people said their main drive was a love for gardening, a quarter said their primary aim was to entertain guests outdoors and 14 per cent aimed to increase their property’s value.

Tophill said: ‘With the current waiting list to snag an allotment longer than that of any new restaurant, there is no doubt that gardening is growing in popularity among a younger generation and people are enjoying spending more time outside.’

Hugo Bugg, 27, won rave reviews at Chelsea last week for his Waterscape Garden, which scooped a gold medal.

Hugo Bugg, the youngest winner of a Gold medal for his Waterscape Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show

Hugo Bugg, the youngest winner of a Gold medal for his Waterscape Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show

His achievement is all the more remarkable because this is his first time at Chelsea, after beginning his gardening career just six years ago.

He said: ‘My parents are keen gardeners, so I got into gardens growing up. We had three acres of wilderness so there was plenty to play with.

‘I love working with plants. I love the design of outdoor spaces and landscapes, playing with new materials.

‘It’s been such a buzz to have my first time here at Chelsea, although I was obviously a bit nervous.’

Hugo Bugg, the youngest ever winner of a Gold medal for his Waterscape Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show, with his proud parents Anna and Stephen

Hugo Bugg, the youngest ever winner of a Gold medal for his Waterscape Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show, with his proud parents Anna and Stephen

Other newcomers were friends Tom Prince and Alex Frazier, both aged 28, who won a gold medal and best in show for the small gardens category.

Also getting plenty of attention were Harry Rich, 26 and his brother David, 23 – the youngest gardener to have ever been given a show garden at Chelsea. Their garden, The Night Sky, was awarded a silver gilt medal.

Veteran designer Cleve West, who was awarded his fifth Chelsea gold medal with his MG garden, welcomed the influx of young blood.

Veteran designer Cleve West, who was awarded his fifth Chelsea gold medal with his MG garden, welcomed the influx of young blood

Veteran designer Cleve West, who was awarded his fifth Chelsea gold medal with his MG garden, welcomed the influx of young blood

He said: ‘It really is amazing to see such talented young designers here. I wasn’t even interested in gardening when I was their age.

‘So to see them come here and do so well is just incredible.

‘There are nice guys as well, really nice neighbours to have.’

But not all experts have been so welcoming to the young designers.

Gardening columnist Bunny Guinness, writing for The Daily Telegraph, said: ‘Garden design and horticulture are skills that are vastly improved with experience above all else, and I think this is shown in some of this year’s Chelsea show garden crop.

‘[There are] too many “arrangements” rather than designs, where many different elements and ideas have been thrown in and then glued together with a mass of planting.’

THE HORTICULTURAL CHANGE IN LAURA LURCOCK’S LIFE

Laura Lurcock in her back garden in Hove, West Sussex

Laura Lurcock in her back garden in Hove, West Sussex

Laura Lurcock used to like nothing better than going out with friends and eating in fancy restaurants.

But, at the age of 28, she has discovered a love of horticulture that a few years ago would have been seen as rather peculiar in such a young person.

Nowadays, with shows such as the BBC’s Big Allotment Challenge and Great British Bakeoff driving a renaissance in home pursuits, Mrs Lurcock is not out of place among her friends.

With husband Gary, 33, she has spent hours planting flower beds and maintaining a perfect lawn at their Brighton home.

Mrs
Lurcock, who is mother to 11-month-old Joshua, said: ‘I never knew I
would get such green fingers until we bought this house.

‘I suddenly became much more
interested in spending time in the garden and making it look nice than
going out and spending our money in restaurants.

‘It’s really satisfying to invest in your home and garden and watch your hard work pay off in the warmer months.

‘Even amongst my friends, I’m
noticing a return to spending money on more traditional hobbies like
baking and gardening instead of going out.’

Mrs
Lurcock, who is on maternity leave from her administration job at
Brighton Hove council, added: ‘We definitely see this as our
family home for the next few years and since having Josh I’ve realised
how important it is to have a space for the entire family to spend time
together.

‘We regularly have our friends and their children around and it’s so much easier to knock up a barbecue and eat outside while the kids run around and play.’

‘I can imagine that when Josh gets a bit older he’ll be begging for a slide or swing, like I did when I was little.’


Comments (2)

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The comments below have been moderated in advance.

carin2014,

London, United Kingdom,

2 days ago

Gardening is such a wonderful creative pastime, an expressive way to bring colour and joy to our daily lives. It is so good that this traditional pastime is becoming increasingly appreciated by the younger generations.

Ken,

Gran _Canaria, Spain,

2 days ago

Superb news. There’s nothing like being able to plant, watch it grow, and then harvest and eat your own food. Certainly saves money.

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