A couple of gardeners who appeared on ITV show Love Your Garden have spoken about a change they made to their outdoor space after the team and Alan Titchmarsh had left14:44, 08 Jul 2026A couple, whose garden appeared on the programme Love Your Garden, have said they needed to make a critical change to the design created by Alan Titchmarsh and his team.‌Keith and Verna Naunton, based in Essex, were being interviewed about their garden after it was named Garden Of The Week by the Garden News magazine when they recalled their experience with the ITV show, fronted by famous gardener Alan.‌The pair, who joined the National Garden Scheme 16 years ago, said their garden was put forward when a TV production company asked the county NGS teams to suggest gardens they felt were good enough for a new programme called ‘Love Your Garden’.‌This programme sees Alan travel around the UK to look at themed gardens and offer tips and advice to both the gardeners behind them, and the viewing public. The show has been going for over 10 years since its first episode was broadcast in 2011.Keith and Verna’s garden was put forward and the cameras duly came round. The Essex branch of the NGS had praised Keith and Verna’s garden for its interesting multi-layered space.‌Speaking about the experience to the magazine, they said they made one major change in the years after Alan and the team left.They said: “For the 30-minute programme, Alan and his team worked on a space that contained a hot tub, giving it a tropical feel, and showed areas of the garden and interviewed us.“Now the children have grown up we’ve subsequently replaced the hot tub with a seating area, which we find is much more useful for us!”‌Their comments came after presenter Alan opened up frankly about how, like a garden, he has changed over time.Specifically, he talked about the importance of people in your life giving you encouragement and that confidence to give something a go.‌Speaking with journalist and podcaster Jake Humphrey, he said: "You need enablers in life who say 'you know what you should have a go at'. I started as an apprentice gardener, and here I am now with a chat show."Alan had also, in the same interview, admitted to a series of struggles when he was younger, and how he found something he loved that helped him through that difficult time, which he admitted brought him to tears.He said: “I was small at school and pushed around… I mean, I never told anyone. Well, my parents obviously knew.Article continues below“You know, it's part of growing up, and we can't shield children from everything. There's no excuse for bullying at all."But, yeah, I was bullied, and if you can find something you love and come to terms with who you are. I was a classic late developer."