We are family
Berryfields is a very odd place to work. The most obvious reason being that it is seen by millions, but visited by very few. Other times it's odd just because you could never predict the day would turn out so.
Last Friday we threw a party for Geoff and Clare (Clare's 30th, Geoff's goodbye). We built a barbecue, picked the aubergines (marbled violet and white and tasting divine), pickled, diced and grated as many other vegetables as possible, made Pimms in a tub trug, created a place to play boules, hung bunting in the apple trees and generally declared Berryfields a place of merriment. When I found myself hiding in the big old conifer at the bottom of the garden, waiting for the other sardines to find me, listening to peels of laughter, stifling giggles, I had to pinch myself and say is this is where I work!
This may sound trite, but for me last Friday was a monumental day because Berryfields became a real garden as people frolicked, languished and wandered through as real people do in real gardens. I'm not sure if gardens need people, but I know gardeners do. The garden felt whole to me, people gathered around plants, discussing combinations, noting changes, demanding names and cuttings, while I hid in a tree and giggled.
I suppose all that's left is to say, "welcome to our family Mr. Buckland".
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~42~RS~)
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Love reading your blogs - this one really got me thinking though, with all the various opinions about presenters floating around maybe something has been missed, maybe its not the presenters (which I personally think do a good job) its the garden at fault. You clearly seem to love it but does the garden show its "soul" on TV? I'm genuinely not sure? Or is it too much of a set?
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It's an interesting one about the garden having a 'soul'. Gardens are expression of the people that make them, to some extent this is intellectual response to a landscape, but there has to be an emotional one. I sort of feel that Berryfields hasn't always been allowed to show it's emotional side. To me it's a place I've spent five days a week for the last two years and I can map the garden out by my emotions. There are place that I can only associate with laughter and others where I go to cry angry hot tears at the world (or who ever's stood on the plants!). So yes, your right I love the garden and I'm very attached to it. For this reason I always feel the need to defend it. It's hard when it's not the presenter's home, but I don't think that's a reason for it not to have soul. Oh I'm rambling, but I guess what is most important is that there a change a foot with Toby joining us and I think that's a good thing for the garden.
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Alys, I too have thoroughly enjoyed reading your blogs over the last few weeks; they do give a real insight into the garden and your relationship with it. I think this is also reflected in the sections of the show which you have presented, and I would hope that despite the change of presenter you will continue in this role. I know that my friends and I have been musing on the selection of another male presenter; we were perhaps hoping that a female presenter (perhaps yourself or carol) would have been given an opportunity to break this mould! No matter, we will continue to watch avidly and look forward to your slot; there are lots of career women in their 30's out there who would love to have your job, and perhaps even your groovy specs!
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Alys, I absolutely love your blog! I've been watching Gardeners World for a few years now and Berryfields never fails to reminds me of the BBC production of (and the book of) The Children of Green Knowe by Lucy M Boston. A place of peace and magic, where anything may happen and the outside world cannot intrude. What a wonderful job you have in such an amazing environment - I am very envious. Keep posting!
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Loved your article in the Guardian. Was disappointed by last week G World when Rachel de Thame seemed to have a fortune to spend on her dream border. Rather out of keeping with the times I thought.
Jackieis
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