"Gardening is seen as a pastime that is almost like belonging to the Church of England - a sign of ma..." — Monty Don

The farm uses up a lot of my creative urges. It's a sort of rough and ready space, I don't film there.

The British have such an odd relationship with food - and the land. I want the public and the Soil Association to see that growing things in a garden is no different to growing things in a field.

I had a difficult relationship with my parents, who died young, but they instilled self-discipline and a sense of honour and loyalty and accountability. I'm grateful for that.

That first snowdrop, the flowering of the rose you pruned, a lettuce you grew from seed, the robin singing just for you. These are smallthings but all positive, all healing in a way that medicine tries to mimic.