Monty Don, the renowned presenter of Gardeners’ World, has shared the concerning aftermath of a significant flood that affected his home in Herefordshire. On November 15 and 16, the 70-year-old gardener posted several images and videos on social media, illustrating the extent of the flooding that impacted his property and the surrounding area.
In an Instagram post, Don remarked on the severity of the flooding, stating, “There has been really bad flooding in this part of the country and homes and businesses have suffered very badly, so we are lucky that it is just the fields and garden that is wet here.” He accompanied his message with a photo showing high water levels surrounding tree trunks outside his home.
Resilience in the Face of Adversity
Monty Don resides at Longmeadow with his wife, Sarah, and their two dogs, Patti and Ned. The couple’s property has appeared regularly on the BBC series, Gardeners’ World. Despite the challenges posed by flooding, Don expressed a unique perspective. “We are right next to a river and water meadows so we are used to floods – and they have a transformative beauty,” he noted, posting another image that highlighted the lush greenery unaffected by the flood.
Earlier that day, Don had shared a photo depicting the inundated garden, reporting that the area was “a little wet” after a storm that deposited a month’s worth of rain within 24 hours. Despite the conditions, his golden retriever, Ned, appeared to enjoy the flood, as captured in a video where he enthusiastically retrieved a ball from the water. “The small matter of a major flood is not going to stop Ned retrieving his ball!” Don humorously captioned the clip.
Frequent Flooding at Longmeadow
This incident is not the first time Don has faced flooding challenges at Longmeadow; he experienced similar conditions earlier in the year. In January 2024, he expressed concerns about the increasing frequency of flooding in the area. “I live in Herefordshire. We live on a flood plain, so flooding has always been part of life there,” he stated. “But it’s definitely got worse. It’s definitely got more frequent.”
In fact, during the January flooding, both Monty and Sarah were trapped inside their home. “My wife and I couldn’t get out of the house or garden. We were flooded in,” he recounted. He noted the potential dangers of being cut off, particularly for his elderly neighbor, saying, “If anything had happened to him, it would have been a helicopter time, I guess.”
Reflecting on the ongoing weather challenges, Monty wrote in his blog last year, “It has barely stopped raining for the past three months, and as I write this, the fields as far as the eye can see are underwater as are sections of the garden.” He described the situation as frustrating, impacting his ability to work in the garden without creating a muddy mess.
Monty and Sarah bought Longmeadow in October 1991, transforming the property from a two-acre abandoned field into a thriving garden over a span of ten years. When they acquired the home, it was in a state of disrepair with no roof, electricity, running water, or sanitation. “It took 10 years to finish the initial building work, but it has been a privilege and joy to restore,” Monty stated in an interview.
The exterior of Longmeadow features neatly pruned box hedges, while the interior boasts a cozy country sitting room, a large farmhouse kitchen, and a potting shed, all of which reflect the couple’s dedication to creating a beautiful living space despite the challenges posed by the unpredictable weather.
