Gardener's World – Is it worth it?

Hi folks,

I'm a new gardener starting out on this steep and daunting ascent up the mountain of botany. Already I'm struck by how much of a presence Gardener's World is. It's the Jupiter in this whole cosmos. Given the reach and reputation of the BBC, this isn't altogether surprising, but it is the commercial arm of the BBC and my quick rudimentary assessment of the GW website (as a non-member) is that everything is a subtle encouragement to get you to become a paid subscriber. Like a charming confidence trickster with well-concealed motives.

I'm interested in hearing the thoughts of others. In particular, has anyone enrolled on any of their courses? Are the member-only materials/resources worth it? If you're a member, what keeps you coming back to it?

(I wouldn't want this to descend into GW bashing or indeed an advert. I'm really just interested in a roundup of fair-minded impressions.)

Thank you.

 

I joined but only to use their forum, which they promptly closed down sending me over here! Was never a paid subscriber.
I do have a subscription to the Readly app which includes plenty of gardening magazines. But I probably learn most from reading the threads here and seeing other peoples' successes/mistakes.

 

It seems like you're paying for a lot of glossy adverts interspersed with a few gardening articles. I never buy it.

 

I subscribed to the magazine for a couple of years when the BBC first brought it out, (no website back then). Then it got a bit repetitive, even for a relatively beginner gardener, which I was then, so I cancelled it.

Lots of us used to use the GW forum (signed up non-paying) until they closed it in March, then we came over here en-masse. I don't think I've looked at the website since then.

I still watch and mostly enjoy GW on the telly though. These days the magazine and website are owned/run by Immediate Media not the BBC, although I assume there's some kind of licensing arrangement to use the name.

 

Thanks, @JennyJB. Your mention of Immediate Media sent me down something of a rabbit hole to find out more about them. They seem to be something of a media juggernaut whose London operations (including the BBC Gardeners' World website) are run via a different company named Immediate Media London Ltd. Profits appear to have halved between 2021 and 2022, which may explain the need to hack away at unprofitable bits of the empire. The concept of loss-leaders (once so prevalent in the 80s) appears to have had its day. Ruthless corporate (supermarket) thinking – if any product doesn't directly and quantifiably increase profit, it's toast.

 

Another ex subscriber to the magazine, it was bought as a Christmas present to my late Mum back in the 1990s and I took it over years later. As @JennyJB says, I found it became very repetitive (although that can be part of the nature of gardening I suppose), and cancelled it.

As for the website and the "Premium" content for subscribers, I very rarely looked at that. My main reason was the forum which was of more use to me, as, just like Gardeners Corner, there was a wealth of information based on experience.
Another benefit of forums like this is the friendships that are made.

My personal opinion is that it is not worth paying for, from what I did see of it "back in the day".

 

I sometimes take out a subscription early in the year when they are offering a good deal (3 issues for £5 recently) but cancel it after the deal period. I occasionally buy an issue in the supermarket but usually regret it after I have flicked through. I certainly wouldn't take out a subscription at full price.
If I want to read about gardening I often buy books on ebay cheaply and if they are good I keep them and if not I donate them to a local NT garden which has a second hand book shop.

 

I've had some excellent books from car boot sales for pennies. Then of course there's all the videos on YouTube.

 

I had a subscription to the magazine for a couple of years, courtesy of my parents. Yes, it becomes repetitive after a year or two - so subscription was cancelled.

Now I just purchase the one issue of the magazine that gives "two for one" entry to numerous gardens open to the public.

Like many here, I was on the GW forum, before it closed.

I still watch the TV programme, but have learnt a lot from the forum, magazine, talking to other gardeners, and mostly, my parents.

 

I just buy the May issue to get the 2-for-1 card which is great for garden visiting.

 

I gave up the RHS because the journal was boring, I had stacks of them at one time that I hadn't even looked at.
Never used the GW mag, but if its anything like the programme it not something that would interest me.
I do my own thing, not found GW of any use since Geoff Hamilton left, if you want an interesting and good beginners TV programme try the Scottish one.
I use subtitles,

 

I think in the end all gardening mags get repetitive.
I quite like Youtube for videos.

 

@tommyrot if you just want to learn more about basic gardening, I don't think magazines will really help. If you have a specific interest then it's probably worth your while to join a society ( there's plenty about - local or national ) which suits your requirements.
As others have mentioned, the content of many magazines is pretty general and contain far too many adverts.
Forums such as this are open to any queries and can provide personal experience as to what works, what doesn't and an insight into your best way forward to learn the basics. Any advice varies of course as your location as well as your maintenance time will be important.
If you wish to go further and gain qualifications, then the RHS seem to offer the best option unless you are able to attend a decent Horticultural college within your locality.