BBC Gardeners’ World viewers have been left emotional after Monty Don shared a deeply personal tribute to his late Labrador, Nellie, the beloved four-legged star who regularly stole the show on screen and online.
In a new Instagram post, the gardening icon shared a tender photo of himself cuddling Nellie, marking a decade since she first entered his life. Alongside the image, he wrote: “On this day 10 years ago, Nellie came into my life. I still miss her very much.”
The heartfelt message instantly struck a chord with fans, many of whom remember Nellie trotting around Longmeadow as she followed Monty from border to border as he filmed. She became a firm favourite with viewers, often referred to affectionately as his “co-star” thanks to her gentle presence on screen.
The comment section was flooded with well-wishes, with fans admitting the post had brought them to tears. One follower wrote: “She was such a special girl, we all miss her too.” Another added: “Crying at this. Dogs like Nellie never really leave us.”
Monty has been open over the years about the huge part his dogs play in his life, and Nellie’s loss remains one that clearly still sits close to his heart. After being diagnosed with cancer in June 2023, Nellie passed away peacefully in October 2023 and was buried next to Monty’s other dog, Nigel, in their garden at Longmeadow.
Monty wrote on his blog that he buried Nellie in his garden, wrapped in one of his jackets with her favourite biscuits, and the grief was immense.
He later shared a post on Instagram, thanking his followers for their support and noting that he would remember her not with sadness but with gratitude for the time they had together.
Writing a dedication to Nellie, Monty continued: “She was the prettiest, sweetest and most loved of dogs. Quite naughty – she was an arch thief who could melt your heart by gazing soulfully at you having nicked and eaten a freshly baked birthday cake left briefly to cool – but had not a bad bone in her body. We miss her terribly but celebrate the eight years that she enriched our lives.”
Nellie, Nigel and the other six family dogs are all buried in the gorgeous grounds of Monty and his wife Sarah’s home, with Monty posting a photo of the sunset over the sprawling area, writing: “Down the garden path into the sunset.”
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