If you’re contemplating an outdoor makeover, the return of Your Garden Made Perfect could well plant the seed of inspiration.
For those unfamiliar with its concept, the BBC2 makeover series – presented by Angela Scanlon – sees skilled designers use cutting-edge, virtual-reality technology to compete to transform a participant’s back yard into the garden of their dreams.
For those of us who over the past two years have dreamt of an outdoor space to treasure, Your Garden Made Perfect is the ideal show.
“Over the past couple of years I have a newfound appreciation of garden spaces, whatever they are,” says presenter Angela Scanlon.
“That’s why Your Garden Made Perfect worked so well the first time around; we’re not just with a traditional gardening audience but with people who have suddenly gone, ‘Oh my God, my little balcony was my refuge during lockdown. It offered so much to me that I never considered before’.
“So yeah, gardening to my mind has opened up massively. It’s not just about sweeping country lawns, it’s about urban spaces and shared gardens in flats and courtyards and miniscule balconies that still feel like joy.”
The world of gardening can be an emotional place, according to former Robot Wars presenter Scanlon, whether it’s tension or familial joy.
“I love the competition between the gardeners – there is fierce rivalry,” she adds. “And then it’s the reveals; the realisation that when it comes to these places and these gardens, it’s not just about planting some nice flowers and trimming their borders, it can have a massive impact on families and the way they live and the way they interact together.
“And, again, it’s probably been brought to light by the past couple of years, where there’s home schooling, working from home, somebody upstairs, someone downstairs, the kitchen overrun with people.
“So to then suddenly have this gorgeous place that they can have family dinners together and see the kids playing, it can be quite emotional.”
For Scanlon, who is pregnant with her second child, she’s more relaxed when it comes to her career now that she’s fulfilled many of her presenting goals.
“I used to be a big one for tick lists,” she says. “I’d definitely love to do a big entertainment show that feels a bit more frothy and silly, I suppose.
“I did my own chat show last year in Ireland and that was a big moment for me. So it was surreal and a lot of pressure, and also a lot of fun.”
Your Garden Made Perfect, BBC2, Friday, 8pm
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe