Hypocrites! Alan Titchmarsh blasts green campaigners who block pave their gardens

Alan Titchmarsh has criticised green activists who lecture others about the environment but then block-pave their own gardens or buy imported strawberries in January.

The TV gardener said saving the planet is not a matter solely for agricultural land management and industry, but for individuals who can do more to ‘make a difference to the health of planet Earth’.

‘Those of us who cherish that bit of land that comes with our houses have a duty of care that is every bit as vital as that incumbent on the owners of vast estates,’ he told BBC Gardeners’ World magazine.

He took aim at those who may criticise the Government for not doing enough to curb global warming and climate change, in particular Extinction Rebellion protesters, yet do not do enough themselves domestically. 

‘I hope that none of the Extinction Rebellion protesters has a block-paved front garden,’ he said.

Titchmarsh, 70, also attacked those who buy fruit in the winter months that must have been flown in from abroad

‘It would be hypocritical to berate governments about their irresponsibility when so many of us are cavalier about such things on a domestic scale.’

Block-paving – covering over a front or back garden with brickwork – leaves no space for plants to grow or insects to flourish.

Titchmarsh, 70, also attacked those who buy fruit in the winter months that must have been flown in from abroad.

‘We cannot berate members of the Royal Family and global superstars for flying hither and yon in private jets if we buy strawberries in January, for they, too, will have necessitated the burning of fossil fuel to reach our table,’ he said.

He encouraged a return to a ‘seasonality of diet’ in favour of a demand for certain foods all year round as he cited the destruction of Mexican rainforests to make way for avocado plantations.

Titchmarsh said the UK needs to ‘experience the joy of growing things, and to eat local produce that’s been responsibly grown’.