Gardeners’ World & Alan Titchmarsh Gardening Club 2025

@Tinkerton the Lizzie from Australia in the internet took part on a Bake off serie.

Lizzie Schofield is not an Australian but sounds to me like someone who has got a very strong local dialect and because of her job as teacher, she learnt to speak English English (as I call it) but can't deny a Scottish local dialect. The way she speaks reminds me on Berliners with a very strong Berlin dialect who try to speak slowly Hochdeutsch (High German based on Hanoverian German) to get the pronunciation right.
Reading comments here, I had to laugh. In my job, I have to listen to English spoken around the world from Fiji Island to Europe. I can't tell apart all British local dialects, but the main British accents.
I got once a call from my car insurance and she was from the deepest heart of Scotland. I was not able to understand what she was asking and had to apologise. Maybe Lizzie Schofield is one of those.

 

@Tinkerton Lizzie Schofield is not Australian, you don't have the right Lizzie. I agree with @simone_in_wiltshire. Her accent sounds English with a Scottish twinge, a bit as though she's had elocution lessons to get rid of her Scottish accent.

 

Can I just clarify - it's not that I dislike/like certain accents, it's the vocal itself that gives me problems as I have sensory issues. @Obelix-Vendée 's description of 'tortured' is what it sounds like to me. My younger daughter is the same, but for her, it's visuals that give her trouble.
I have the same problem with Carol Klein's voice, to the point where I can't have the sound on when she's on TV, although I noticed on those old episodes of G's World that she seemed less 'boisterous' -if that makes sense. Certain voices just give me a 'nails down blackboard' reaction.
I had a friend I worked with, and who lives nearby, whose mother sent her to elocution lessons to rid her of her 'common accent'. She was originally from the Midlands, but she had what we'd describe here as quite a posh accent!

I'd slightly dispute her [Lizzie's] gardening credentials too - I very much doubt that the white lavender she planted will do well!

 

Oops, sorry if I got The Wrong Lizzie! I don't watch things like baking shows. Thank you for pointing out the error of my ways.

I still maintain that her accent is not Scottish nor English! Maybe she's travelled extensively, or picked up dialect from elsewhere, as some people do. Whatever, wherever, I just can't bear to listen to it, sorry. I lived in the north east of Scotland for going on 40 years, and I never came across an accent like hers. Maybe she attended a school where a Doric accent was highly discouraged? Still sounds Australian to me.

And I have to agree with @fairygirl about the white lavender! Although it seemed quite sheltered and close to a path, but heat from the sun radiating onto the stones, in north east Scotland...in winter? That'd be a triumph of hope over experience!

 

I really enjoyed this week's programme, particularly the item about the walled garden near Romford.
The determination of Lois to rescue it,and fighting for eleven years to be able to do so was admirable, and the vibe of the place was clearly very special. It got to Adam Frost, and it got to me as well !

The new build garden was very beautiful. It just shows what can be done, and the comments about new build housing and what can be done to counteract its effect on the environment were very well expressed imo. As someone who bought a new build off plan (albeit 36 years ago), I could definitely relate to Andrew's comments.

Liked the "Sparrow Street" sign below the nest boxes .

I'm intrigued to see how Monty's large pots turn out, especially the David Howard dahlias. I had one that was as tall as the height of the base of my greenhouse roof some years back. Did like sound of the "Victorian Gothic" look.

"Make a metre matter" sounds inspirational. I'm looking forward to a. Seeing it on the programme and b. Reading what any GC members who visit GW Live make of it all.

Finally, got to love a peony. A shame they are so fleeting, but they certainly put on a wonderful show.

 

I wondered about that too @AnniD. Dahlia David Howard is a vigorous grower, one of the best I have ever grown! I can see that combination struggling due to lack of space .

 

Glad it wasn't just me then @Plantminded !
Although I like the orange and purple combo, I thought there must be a less vigorous dahlia available. I know those pots are big, but even so...

 

I agree about that pot...and then he added Aeoniums as well!
I currently have that dahlia - just one tuber that I managed to overwinter. It's filling it's pot, despite being well nibbled by slugs/snails. The pot is a good size too - approx 35 cm width and height.

and I'm sorry - that accent is not 'central Scottish' either!

 

I've been puzzling about that accent. I spent 5 years in Scotland, including one in Aberdeen and never heard an accent like Lizzie's. I can hear an Australian twang there and wonder whether she may have travelled or worked abroad when younger and picked up the accent then. I'm always very suspicious of people who pick up accents when travelling or working abroad .

 

Depnds on your upbringing @Plantminded plus mimics can copy any accent - Rory Bremner comes to mind.

My family moved around a lot, including my being born in what is now Tanzania so I learned English with parental Geordie then Brummie then Lancashire, Manchester and Cheshire accents before moving to London. That means my accent can shift depending on where I am and with whom tho never mockney which I really dislike.

As stated earlier in this thread, I do think tehre are antipodian influences in her pronunciation.

 

Could be worse - Lulu springs to mind....5 minutes in America and she had the fake American accent.
That ghastly Sheener Easton [as she gets called here] was even worse. Let's just say it didn't go down well with Glaswegians when she appeared at Glasgow Green [ T in the Park] back in the day

My Dad never lost his London accent, despite living considerably longer here than down there. It was always funny when he used some Scottish terms and phrases though.

 

8m tonight.

" The team head to Birmingham for one of the highlights of the horticultural calendar - the annual Gardeners’ World Live event.

Monty Don, Rachel de Thame, Adam Frost, Arit Anderson and Ashley Edwards are on hand to showcase the best the gardening world has to offer.

From innovative design inspiration in the show gardens to the thousands of sensational blooms and expert advice in the floral marquee, the show is brimming with ideas for every space, whether you have a garden, windowsill or balcony.

Nick Bailey reveals his headline show garden, designed to make every metre matter. There's a mother and son who’ve designed a beautiful border that celebrates their Welsh and Iraqi heritage, and a pelargonium grower who realises his dream of becoming a nurseryman. And discover the joy of orchids with a couple of experts growers bringing their collection to the show."

 

Not really keen on that Beechgrove programme and hardly watch it, but they all sound as though they are from "oop north". I have no idea where though.

 

Why do folk from dahn sarf always think anyone residing north of Watford Gap is from 'oop' north?
Never met a northerner yet who says 'oop'. Unless it's 'ula 'oops.

 

Carole Baxter is originally from Kent. She moved up here after she got her degree in the south of England.