Monty Don is leaving Gardeners' World after 23 years

Monty and his wife Sarah bought their home in 1991 when the garden was rubble, nettles and a singular hazel tree. Over three decades, they have transformed it into a series of characterful spaces including the Cottage Garden, Jewel Garden, Vegetable Garden and the Islamic-inspired Paradise Garden. The result has evolved into something that is far beyond a show garden. Longmeadow has always been entirely functional, innately lived in and, like the seasons, ever changing. It is a place of productivity and nourishing retreat with its writing hut, pond and orchard. This is the wonderful world Monty has welcomed viewers into, and it has resonated with them for years, providing a sense of accessibility to gardening which is perhaps one of the keys to Monty's longevity. His gardening has rarely been reserved for those with expert knowledge, acres of land or limitless time. Monty instead offers an outstretched hand to viewers, even those without a garden at all. In a previous House & Garden article, Monty discussed the growing number of people creating green spaces indoors, or working with balconies and rooftops. Monty's garden, Longmeadow, which will be familiar to Gardeners' World fans 'Choosing the right plant for the right space' remains one of his fundamental principles, an idea which makes gardening in modern day life possible rather than being about striving for pure perfection. This open-hearted spirit – and his broad appeal – has also seen Monty reach beyond traditional gardening parameters. This summer, he appeared in a New Balance project centred around a garden in Flimby, Cumbria, designed by jewellery designer Bleue Burnham. The garden sits beside New Balance's Made in UK factory and was created as a restorative space for its roughly 300 employees to rest, reflect and spend time in nature. Monty and Ned meet King Charles and Queen CamillaThe collaboration may seem unexpected at first – a gardening broadcaster appearing in a campaign for a footwear brand – but it demonstrates the extent of Monty's appeal. The Flimby project is, ultimately, about craftsmanship, nature and wellbeing, reflecting ideas that have been central to his television work. His influence has always been about more than knowing when to plant that seed. His calm presence and openness when speaking about the restorative qualities of gardening – and about personal issues, including his struggles with depression – have helped position horticulture as part of a wider conversation about how we live. He has also spoken emotionally about the beloved dogs that have joined him on screen over the years, including Patti, a Yorkshire Terrier who died last month. In 2025, he collaborated with BBC Radio 2 to design his first-ever Chelsea Flower Show Garden, the RHS and BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden. For a programme built around the seasons, Monty's departure feels incredibly fitting. Gardens are constantly changing – plants grow, flourish, and eventually make way for something else. After 23 years and around 700 programmes, Monty Don is leaving Gardeners' World but not gardening, and certainly not Longmeadow.