Monty Don, the BBC presenter who has hosted Gardeners’ World for 23 years, has announced that he will leave the show, stating it is "the right time for a change." During an event at the RHS Malvern autumn flower show, he hinted that he may have to let go of the gardeners who have maintained his Herefordshire garden, Longmeadow, which has been the setting for his broadcasts since 2011. Don explained that the BBC had contributed to the salaries of two full-time gardeners as part of his contract, but that this support will end following his departure. He noted that the garden must remain camera-ready at all times, requiring constant maintenance even when he is away filming in locations such as the Rhine or India. The garden, which Don and his wife Sarah created in 1991 on a 2-acre plot in the village of Ivington, has evolved from a neglected field with one hazel tree into four distinct areas: a cottage garden filled with shrub roses, a jewel garden with bright, multicoloured flowers, an Islamic-inspired paradise garden, and a vegetable garden that provides produce year-round. Don’s current team of two gardeners, a propagation expert and a landscaper, have been with him for 10 years and will need to be considered for future arrangements. He mentioned that he would not open the garden to the public due to the difficulty of organizing parking, but is exploring ways to generate income from the space, though not before the middle of next year. Don will continue working with the BBC on other programmes and will also pursue his own projects, including writing books. The final series of Gardeners’ World hosted by Don will continue to be broadcast from Longmeadow until later this year. It is understood that he will shortly begin filming a travel programme for the BBC, named Island Gardens.