'Big dreams, small spaces'

I think someone else mentioned how good this programme is,Chris....but I haven't seen it..I will make a note to watch it tomorrow on I player..it sounds good..I don't like those instant makeovers much ,either..not really proper gardening,is it? Thanks for letting us know more about it :o).x

I didn't know it was on until tonight,OH watched some of it and said it was really good so I'll be watching what I've missed on catchup :-)

Just found out it was on Chris. I'll need to download the ones I've missed.
Sound a little bit different, which might be a good thing.

Loved it last night..Thought the guy with the pond was amazing...

What annoys me about the instant makeover programmes
is that if the soil is poor, they ship in lorry loads of compost or good soil. Then plonk half grown plants into it. Stand
back with big smiles on their faces, trying to convince me how clever they are.
We werent born yesterday !

well i thought it looked great..i hope they put a follow on programme next year to see how it fills out.

I didn't know about this either ,Thanks Chris ....

I have just watched Episode 1 on BBCiPlayer and would recommend watching this to you all ... what a delightful programme ... tells it as it is. I sympathised with the couple working on the Sussex clay ... been there & done that! Thanks for letting us know about this programme Chris. :o)

This is such a good idea as most gardens never have the space they dream of.
I watched this last night and enjoyed it. Its great to see the people do it themselves and end up with a garden they want and we see their hard work over a year.
I must say Monty has grown on me lately, I find I can relate to him more and more because he is so hands on.

I am warming to him too Drc...maybe he has improved with age...:-)

I am enjoying it very much. They have really captured the personalities of the gardeners which is lovely, and I agree that Monty is great with people...much better talking to people than talking to camera I think! :))

All four gardens so far have been amazing, beautiful and so different from each other. It's been great!

Yes Karen, that is it - he IS much better at talking to people than to the camera. That must be the reason why I like him so much more on this programme.

:) could be.....

Absolutely! He makes the subjects feel good about themselves, even if he slightly criticises their designs. I've been loving every programme, and really admire the way that Monty is so tactful, but positive, and totally willing to lend his muscle!!

I've only watched one program, but the others have been recorded for me.I'm not much of a Monty fan, but like everybody says he's much better with people, not so patronising, as when he's talking on GW.I liked the fact that he was hands on, soon got to work on those overgrown bushes, and offered adviced,when needed and genuinly too. Well done Monty....you've gained a fan.Looking forward to the other programs!

Never seen it. I thought it was another 'makeover' programme, which I don't like to watch.
And I don't really like Monty Don either.
But after reading your blog, I'll try to see it sometime ...

I watched the first one on I player after reading your blog and I really enjoyed it, will be on part two tonight. I've never been a Monty Don fan but he is good in this :o)

Sounds as if he has converted a few of us! A wise move Monty!

I have always been a Monty fan just because he loves his dog! I have enjoyed these programmes very much too - nice to see how the gardens evolve over a year.

I'm a bit like Hywel, don't like Monty and so haven't watched it, although I caught the last few minutes of the last episode and thought it looked rather too much gravel and rather bland. However after reading some of the comments here I'll have a look on IPlayer..perhaps I'll change my mind.

Just watched the first episode - £600 for one palm!!!!!!
They saw her coming! And how much for the slate and gravel to fill the undersized hole? More money than sense. As for people who buy houses and say 'we never even looked inside' with smug, self-satisfied.... they just make me want to vomit! I will watch the second episode in the (vain) hope that there is something redeeming in what from the first episode should have been called 'Big budget, actually-not-so-Small Space'.

Urbanite; I've now also watched an episode of Big Dreams... and I have to say, I'm not impressed either. I think you and I watched the same episode and I was horrified to think anyone would spend that kind of money and not have the first idea how to care for it! As for the woman who doesn't like to see bare soil and so let it become choked with weeds...words fail me..I can see where WR is coming from when she says Monty is always kind with his comments, but as for 'Will I be watching again?' Sorry I very much doubt it.

Sorry if you feel I misled you on these programmes. Some did turn out to be better than others as the week progressed.

I have watched them all now and loved them because it was gardeners making mistakes and not so called garden designers and I think what they achieved was interesting if not to my taste and I hope they will make more.

I have managed to see two of the programmes so far,and really enjoyed them..Some plants were suggested,but on the whole it was their choice..which we all have.If someone is daft enough to spend £600 on one tree.it is up to them..Not all to my taste,but I thought Monty just went along with what they wanted,with some helpful advice of what to place where,etc..As I still have to watch the others,I will reserve judgement..maybe I won't like them either..I hope there is another series at some point..

Good job we're all different isn't it?

It is,Julia..We would get fed up of looking at the same photo's of plants on here,from all GoYers :o)

That's true :)

Watched the rest this afternoon - liked what the lads did with their little patch of Snowdonia but felt like crying as they were tipping all that slate and rock to fill in the 'hole in the wall'. Didn't see whether they got rid of the rhodedendron that seemed to be taking over the rock face.

That made me smile and I am glad that you enjoyed some of the programme.

I dread to think what you will think if you see the lady who spent a fortune on a huge number of acers for her so-called 'Japanese Garden' but hadn't a clue where any of them were going and also obviously had no intention of planting a single one herself!! Poor Monty!

Everybody is different, each to their own!

I've not seen that one yet Wildrose but have enjoyed the others. The Snowdonia one impressed me because they managed to do it on a very low budget :o)

I liked that one too and it seemed to be popular with all the locals!

Well I watched the Japanese/Norwegian garden one last night and see what you mean about the lady with the Acers, oh to have that sort of budget. I stopped watching the child friendly garden one as I was getting bored, should I have carried on?

No, it wasn't very good either!!!

Thanks I will delete it then WR

We watched this program some time ago, obviously regions vary, and found them most interesting, and thought that Monty was very natural and really helpful, much better than on GW!!