Alan Titchmarsh reflects on King Charles III’s impact on horticulture: “His energy is mind-blowing”

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Alan Titchmarsh jokes that designing a garden with so many people – including himself, King Charles, David Beckham, and Frances Tophill – is difficult, but they’ve given it their best shot!

Although Alan Titchmarsh, recently celebrating his 77th birthday, acknowledges that Tophill was the main inspiration for the Curious Garden project, his existing friendship with the King also helped make it happen.

He and I first became acquainted in 1986. We’ve often strolled through his gardens together. When he became king, I assumed his passion for gardening would lessen, but I was completely wrong – it remained a significant part of his life.

According to one observer, the King’s contributions to gardening, nature, and environmental issues are unmatched by anyone except David Attenborough. They describe him as incredibly energetic, passionate, and practical, noting that he doesn’t just talk about making improvements – he actively takes the initiative and gets things done.

If Eric Cantona still has his passion, what about David Beckham’s dedication? Alan Titchmarsh explains that Beckham is a very enthusiastic gardener. Titchmarsh has visited Beckham’s garden and they’ve discussed it, noting Beckham is truly passionate about gardening and finds it therapeutic – something Titchmarsh shares.

You know, I’ve been thinking about why the King is such a dedicated gardener, and Alan Titchmarsh shed some light on it. He said it’s a real source of peace for him, but it’s more than that. The King genuinely cares about the environment, wildlife, and all things natural – and gardening lets him indulge those passions. It’s lovely to see, really.

Authors

Michael Hodges

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2026-05-11 19:54