Gardeners’ World host Monty Don has revealed a new tribute to his much loved dog Ned at the Chelsea Flower Show following the devastating loss of dogs Nell and Nigel
Monty Don has shared a hidden tribute to his much-loved dog Ned as he unveiled his Chelsea Flower Show garden. The Gardeners’ World presenter has consistently surrounded himself with canines over the years, with Ned joining in his show.
The golden retriever has become a familiar face alongside Monty as he embraces his green thumb and gives gardening tips. Monty is using his love of greenery at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show and designed his very own garden.
His creation will be on full display for the flocks of crowds, including the royals, as they attend the five-day show next month. However, this year, Monty has broken the moUld with his design as the garden pays tribute to Ned.
They have made their designer duo debut for the event hosted by the Royal Horticultural Society. Monty and gardener Jamie Butterworth are the brains behind the design of the ‘dog garden’.
Visitors to the Royal Hospital Chelsea grounds will be able to walk though winding pathways and shady spots that have been inspired by Ned’s love of outdoor spaces.
The unique design saw Ned let loose along with dogs owned by gardener Jamie and RHS director-general Clare Matterson, to sniff out routes and explore the garden.
Monty told The Times: “We’ve been observing the way that they move around among the plants in order to plan out the paths. It didn’t actually go according to our expectations, which is good, because it meant that we had to rethink.”
He added: “You have this sort of branching, curving system, which neither Jamie or I would have really thought out. We would have made it much more sort of maze-y, like one’s idea of a snake’s passage.”
The garden is also dog friendly, which was at the top of Monty’s priority list. It features lots of trees and shrubs to create shady areas for dogs to cool down in in warm weather.
He also made sure there was a stream for them to splash about in and drink from and the lawn will be left long for them to roll around in. There is a dog friendly sofa, leads and balls.
For years, Monty has proudly proclaimed his adoration for dogs. On his website, he writes: “I have lived with dogs all my life and so it is absolutely natural to me that wherever I am in the garden I should be accompanied by a dog or two. It is their garden as much as mine or any other members of the family.
“Something that I take for granted is that, by and large, they do absolutely no damage and respect the garden completely. They (rarely) dig holes or crash through the flower beds. They do treat the long paths as bowling alleys down which they career in chase of the ball that we are obliged to throw, but it is harmless enough.”
The presenter’s late dog Nigel, also a golden retriever, became an unexpected star, attracting fan mail and even inspiring fan accounts on social media during his regular appearances on BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World.
His sudden death from violent seizures in 2020 left Monty heartbroken. Three years after Nigel’s passing, Monty had to bid farewell to his other cherished golden retriever Nell, who died of cancer.
READ MORE: Top-rated teeth whitening strips currently 30% off in ‘cheaper than Amazon’ Easter sale
