British horticulturist Monty Don unveiled his dog-friendly garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this week.
Inspired by his Herefordshire plot, Longmeadow, the RHS and Radio 2 Dog Garden features a shaggy lawn, music by Snoop Dogg and a special feature made from Monty’s trousers.
To mark the grand reveal, here’s everything you need to know about Monty Don, from his career as a writer and broadcaster to his beloved dogs…
Who is Monty Don?
Monty Don is an English garden writer, broadcaster and horticulturist who was born in Germany and raised in England. He is best known as the lead presenter of BBC’s Gardeners’ World.
How old is Monty Don?
Monty Don was born on 8 July 1955.
Who is Monty Don’s wife?
Monty is married to Sarah Erskine (now Don), who he met at university.
Monty Don’s career
Prior to becoming a horticultural journalist, Monty Don owned a jewellery business with his wife Sarah. The couple counted A-listers and high-profile individuals as clients. Following the closure of the jewellery business in the 1980s, Monty began a career in writing and broadcasting with gardening segments on ITV’s This Morning.
Monty was the Observer’s gardening editor from 1994 until 2006. He is also the author of a number of books, including The Sunday Times bestseller My Garden World: The Natural Year.
My Garden World
at amazon.co.uk
Monty has been the lead presenter of BBC’s Gardeners’ World since 2003, and since 2011 the show has been presented from his own garden, Longmeadow, in Herefordshire.
The broadcaster is also known for his work on primetime shows including: Around the World in 80 Gardens, Monty Don’s Italian Gardens, Monty Don’s French Gardens, The Secret History of the British Garden, Monty Don’s Paradise Gardens , Monty Don’s Japanese Gardens, Monty Don’s American Gardens & three series of Big Dreams, Small Spaces.
KIRSTY O&aposCONNOR – Getty Images
Monty was made an OBE for his services to horticulture, broadcasting and charity in 2018.
Monty Don’s dogs
Monty currently has two dogs, a Golden Retriever called Ned and a Yorkshire Terrier called Patti. The dogs often feature on his social media accounts and appear on camera in Gardeners’ World – although Patti prefers to chill off-camera more.
Monty has owned many dogs throughout his adult life, and many of his beloved pets are buried in Longmeadow.
Speaking about his dogs on his website, Monty says: “I have lived with dogs all my life and so it is 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.”
Monty Don’s dog-friendly garden at Chelsea Flower Show
Ben Montgomery – Getty Images
Monty was asked to design The RHS and Radio 2 Dog Garden with plantsman Jamie Butterworth, of Form Plants, for Chelsea Flower Show 2025.
The 20 x 10m garden features a low-maintenance lawn, essential for canine sprawling, sleeping and chasing balls, along with hardy, dog-friendly turf created by the RHS gardeners at Wisley.
“I’m so busy at the moment and I usually resist requests to design a garden. But it’s the combination of dogs and gardens that really appealed to me with this one,” Monty said.
“Also, I like the idea of doing something that’s not cluttered with messages and symbols – just a simple celebration of dogs and gardens.
“My dog Ned has been acting as a consultant. Part of the garden is designed by dogs for dogs.”
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