Is gardening becoming too elitist?

Personally, I think yes.

Take, for example the Hampton Court Flower Show - if you aren't/weren't an RHS member, it's a whopping 29 quid for a ticket in advance of the day and £31 if you buy them on the day you wish to go - which I think is .... a bit steep to say the least.

I wonder how many people would actually go on their own? So that's £29 each to get in, £21 per person (from here) for the rail fare to London, plus the £5.20 each from central London out to Hampton Court and this day out, without even buying a coffee - is going to cost £55. To me, that's a very expensive day out, especially when a certain supermarket is advertising how to feed your family of 4, for a week, on £50.

Elitist? You bet.

 

Have been to Hampton Court a few times and it never fails to amaze me, the numbers of people who go despite the expense. I have to agree however that the cost is quite horrrendous this year and especially when you have all that walking to and fro - beware if you buy anything and then have to carry your purchase back to the station/bus stop.

Am not sure about elitist, lots of people seem to be able to afford it - not so easy for the average OAP!

 

I think Big Business has well and truly got its hands on this sort of event and gardening is obviously the sort of hobby where people can be readily milked of their cash.

But loads of real gardening still goes on by means of swaps over the garden fence , and long may it remain so. It's still a hobby where a canny gardener can produce something rare, special, unusual or valuable for the cost of a packet of seeds.

I'm more worried about garden fashion. As in other areas of life it imposes artificial standards on people and discourages creativity.

 

Never even consider going to such events, too many people for a start, then there is the fashion as Madahhlia says, whats plants are IN and what plants are OUT.
I just grow what interests me and try not to spend a fortune.

Infact if it was a toss up between spending loads of money to get to a garden show or buy a certain plant I particularly want, the plant would win every time.

I even got rid of my RHS membership a couple of years ago after about 25yrs, just totally out of touch with all those big gardens and gardeners they promote.

 

There's not much elitist about me and I reckon it's the likes of those people here which typify gardeners, those big shows are much like ladies day at ascot and bear little resemblance to normal race going public.

Gardening is about getting your hands dirty not buying a few over priced plants that you give to your gardener to plant.

Mrs Chopper (filthy dirty as usual)

 

I have to agree with Pete and Chopper. I think real gardeners don't need to spend much money. You grow from seed, cuttings or swap with friends. I suspect that most people who spent £200 at the garden centre aren't real gardeners, but want to keep up with and show off to their friends.

The same with expensive garden shows. I would like to go to Chelsea once to see what it was like, but I think most of the show gardens are rubbish. They aren't gardens - they are modern art with a few plants added.

 

Gardening IS NOT elitist. However, the shows, such as Chelsea and Hampton Court are. As Pete suggests, the true gardener would rather spend £100 on his or her garden, than put it into the grubby paws of the elitists.:D

 

Chelsea Flower Show is more and more about ornaments than gardening itself, but still it is quite pleasant for the eyes...

 

Some aspects of gardening have become elitist in particular garden design.

At the Chelsea Flower Show there are pretentious designers whose chosen career is more to do with who they know. Most of the designers come from wealthy backgrounds, have impressive address books and networks. Having a double barrelled surname or a silly Christian name seems to help too. With unlimited budgets and plenty of time anyone with a good knowledge of horticulture and access to the internet could come up with a winning design.

Having said that the Floral Marquee at Chelsea is all about the true nursery people. I can tell by the suits brought out once a year for the show that most of these real people are used to getting their hands dirty and would feel far more comfortable in their gardening togs nurturing their plants.

 

The question asked though is " Is GARDENING Becoming Elitist ? " and the answer is NO. Forget the poncey shows, Allotment and back garden gardening is on the UP. It is not elitist it is working class once again.:D

 

I think I agree with the general trend of responses so far.

A proper garden is a place to enjoy, not to slave and compete over. Pretty much everyone I know who has a garden has made their patch a place that is nice to spend time in, and that's what its all about.

I think if we take into account the posh shows, then by extension every hobby/lifestyle is elitist. I like to ride my pushbike, but you wont see me on the Tour De france or the olypics. My sisters own horses but you'll never see them at Ascot or Cheltenham. I think some ordinary folk might want to visit the elite end of poshness from time to time just to have a look or even to feel posh for a day. That's fine if that's what they want to spend their money on. My wife and I once spent the day on a yacht in the med while on our holidays. It was fantastic, we got to lord about like some sort of mafia elite. Elitist perhaps, but it was one day out of our bland and ordinary lives

 

It does for me Alana :WINK1:

 

I think some of the comments are a bit unfair. having produced three - admittedly small - gardens at Chelsea, I think I can speak with some authority.

I've met a number of designers, well-known as well as beginners like me, and they all have one thing in common. They are passionate about plants. I agree the shows appear expensive, but there aren't many days out with such a variety on offer for gardeners.

You can see new plants, get inspiration as well as information in such abundance that it would be hard to match it anywhere else.

Incidently, the cost of producing a small garden is anything between £15,000 and £50,000 and the show gardens from £70,000 to six figures, and that is paid for by the exhibitors and the sponsors. Chelsea is always sold out and the visitors number 157,000, Hampton Court has 163,000 and Tatton Park 93,000.

I would love to do another garden, I have loads of ideas, but it's really stressful, so I'm going to wait until I get a full sponsor before I do. Any offers?!

Chris

 

He can you know, and i'll back him up