St Ann’s Allotments in Nottingham is one of 50 fascinating gardens chosen to feature in a brand-new TV show – Monty Don’s British Gardens.
They feature in Episode 3 (North Wales to Norfolk), which will be broadcast on 24 January at 7 pm on BBC2. Monty Don’s British Gardens is also available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Monty Don’s British Gardens sees Monty travelling around Britain, from the north of Scotland to the furthest tip of Cornwall, to learn what gardens can tell us about the country’s people, climate, and history – and asks if there is such a thing as a ‘British garden.’ He sees how intensely personal British gardens can be and how they reflect some of the greatest passions as well as some real eccentricities.
Nicola Hinton, Allotments Manager at The Renewal Trust, explained:
“Monty Don was keen to feature St Ann’s Allotments as a rare example of Victorian detached town gardens in the heart of a city. He visited the site with a film crew in September 2023 and spent the day exploring three distinctive allotment gardens and meeting the dedicated individuals who tend them.
“With over 550 allotment gardens at St Ann’s, Monty had a wealth of choices. He ultimately selected three gardeners who each bring their own unique vision and approach to allotment design. These allotments reflect the gardeners’ creative flair as well as their horticultural skills.
“The episode will showcase how our gardeners have transformed their plots into personal sanctuaries for relaxation. As you enter each garden, it is immediately evident that they are nurtured with exceptional care, skill, passion, and dedication, making them truly special places and valuable assets to St Ann’s Allotments.
“Being included among some of Britain’s most fascinating gardens is testament to St Ann’s Allotments’ importance as a unique greenspace and heritage site.”
Monty Don said of his new show: “It is an insight not into how we British garden but how we think and live.”
St Ann’s Allotments is one of the oldest and largest collections of Victorian detached town gardens in the UK. The site, established in the 1830s, is made up of 670 allotment gardens spread over 75 acres, just 1.5 km away from Nottingham city centre in St Ann’s.
The site is English Heritage Grade II* listed and a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation, with a range of rare wildlife, including birds, moths, butterflies, damselflies, dragonflies, and 140 varieties of apple.
St Ann’s Allotments has been managed by Hungerhill Developments Ltd as part of The Renewal Trust since 2008. The Renewal Trust led a consortium of partners to bring the derelict site back from the brink with a £4.5 million restoration and conservation programme, and has gone on to consistently and successfully secure additional funds for the site.
However, with increased costs and a withdrawal of funding from Nottingham City Council proving too hard to overcome, Hungerhill Developments Ltd is transferring the lease back to Nottingham City Council at the end of January.
The Renewal Trust is committed to celebrating and promoting St Ann’s Allotments and its gardeners’ stories – locally, nationally, and internationally. This includes bringing high-profile events and visitors, including the world-famous photographer Rankin and the Birmingham Royal Ballet, as well as BBC Gardeners’ World – and now Monty Don in his new role presenting Monty Don’s Great British Gardens.