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Emeritus Prof. Christopher MayChrisMayLA6@mastodon.me.uk
Jul 4, 2026, 7:01 AM
A story for gardeners to start us off this weekend:
Many years ago on the British radio staple, Gardeners Question Time, one of the guests was a rich landed estate owner (and aristocrat).
From the audience came the Q.: what would you recommend planting in a small garden... the answer:
'Even in the smallest garden one should endeavour to have at least an acre of woodland'.
And there you have it: the rich have little idea about the lives of the rest of us.
#gardening #class #politics #radio
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Replies

Timothy SwallehzTimothyswallehz@mastodon.social
Jul 4, 2026, 7:17 AM
@ChrisMayLA6
This facts makes me sad but we can be extend our hands to helping others
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vicarvernonvicarvernon@mastodon.me.uk
Jul 4, 2026, 8:54 AM
@ChrisMayLA6 I once had the privilege of living in a house set in an acre of garden (3 generations of us in the house). It was a mammoth undertaking just keeping on top of the maintenance and was a major reason for the move to a different acre that was mostly lawn with a ride on mower. My parents wanted the opportunity for other activities in their downtime.
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Ben. No, not that one.BenCotterill@mastodon.social
Jul 4, 2026, 9:02 AM
@ChrisMayLA6 Please tell me Bob Flowerdew had words.
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Emeritus Prof. Christopher MayChrisMayLA6@mastodon.me.uk
Jul 4, 2026, 9:23 AM
@BenCotterill
before his time...
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@stevewfoldsstevewfolds@mastodon.world
Jul 4, 2026, 9:21 AM
@ChrisMayLA6
Rural homes used wood for heat in the US until 1941 when electricity came. Fireplaces were replaced by iron stoves as the Industrial Revolution made them available. “A fire that you can see warms your heart. One that you cannot see warms your house.” Mica windows were added in 1800s. My present wood stove has quartz glass windows and outside combustion air as do 97% efficiency gas furnaces.
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Twiteryeanot 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Twiteryeanot@mastodon.scot
Jul 4, 2026, 9:22 AM
@ChrisMayLA6 I'd love an acre of woodland, but only if i can build an off grid cabin in the woods.
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Phil Ashby :marmite: 🍵=> EMF(DECT:5705)phlash@mastodon.me.uk
Jul 4, 2026, 9:32 AM
@ChrisMayLA6 I've heard this quote occasionally (even used it myself for humourous comment), however I'm struggling to find any references to it having been on GQT or elsewhere. Do you have any sources? I'd be delighted to know it wasn't apocryphal 🙂
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Emeritus Prof. Christopher MayChrisMayLA6@mastodon.me.uk
Jul 4, 2026, 9:35 AM
@phlash
Good Q.; its been part of my family mythology for decades & so yes, it may be apocryphal but if it is the inventing of it must have been a long time ago.... and if not I've no idea how it entered our memory - sorry
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Phil Ashby :marmite: 🍵=> EMF(DECT:5705)phlash@mastodon.me.uk
Jul 4, 2026, 9:56 AM
@ChrisMayLA6 Ah! My lovely OH has just informed me that it is usually attributed to Lionel de Rothschild speaking at a gardening club (possibly the horticultural society) in the City in the 1920s. This does indeed turn up some unsubstantiated references!
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Emeritus Prof. Christopher MayChrisMayLA6@mastodon.me.uk
Jul 4, 2026, 11:06 AM
@phlash
Aha, well there we are....
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Dan Hattononly_ohm@mas.to
Jul 4, 2026, 11:44 AM
@phlash @ChrisMayLA6
<https://www.countrylife.co.uk/gardens/why-you-should-plant-a-woodland-garden-225684> provides an attribution of sorts.
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Khleedrilkhleedril@cyberplace.social
Jul 4, 2026, 10:02 AM
@ChrisMayLA6 I've got an acre of woodland growing in my 0.05 acre back garden...
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